REVIEW article
Front. Pharmacol.
Sec. Pharmacology of Ion Channels and Channelopathies
Common themes in evoked ion channel translocation in neuroplastic and homeostatic plasticity
Kirk D Haan
Emma Gaudet
Thomas Fisher
University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
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Abstract
Ion channel trafficking to and from the plasma membrane is an essential adaptation of neurons to external stimulation, and these distinct processes are tightly regulated by various intrinsic and extrinsic factors. The translocation of ion channels to the plasma membrane can strengthen synaptic connections to enhance and sustain learning and memory. Ion channel translocation can also enhance homeostatic regulation through the creation and maintenance of negative feedback loops. The removal of ion channels from the plasma membrane is critical for preventing hyperexcitability and for achieving homeostatic balance (either of activity or inactivity). Recently described and characterized mechanisms of ion channel exocytosis and endocytosis suggest that a select number of proteins, including specific SNARE isoforms and endophilin, are essential for regulating multiple types of evoked ion channel translocation. Moreover, dysfunction of these key proteins is implicated in the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases and may underly common mechanisms of disease development and progression. This review highlights recent discoveries related to the regulation of evoked ion channel translocation and provides novel insights on how the shared components may contribute to normal functioning and disease states.
Summary
Keywords
AMPA, Endophilin, ion channel, Long-Term Potentiation, osmoregulation, SNARE, translocation, TRPV1
Received
17 October 2025
Accepted
20 February 2026
Copyright
© 2026 Haan, Gaudet and Fisher. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Kirk D Haan
Disclaimer
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.