Kir5.1是由Kcnj16编码的内向整流钾通道亚单位，可以与Kir4.1（由Kcnj10编码）或Kir4.2（由Kcnj15编码）形成功能性异源通道（Kir4.1/5.1和Kir4.2/5.1）。它在肾脏、胰腺、甲状腺、大脑和其他器官中均有表达。尽管Kir5.1在大多数情况下无法形成功能性同源通道，但近年来越来越多的研究发现，这个亚单位的功能不应被低估。Kir5.1可以为Kir4.1/5.1通道提供细胞内pH敏感性，在肾远曲小管段中充当细胞外钾离子传感器。该段在维持钾离子和酸碱平衡方面起着重要作用。本文总结了Kir5.1参与的各种病理生理过程，以及作为差异表达基因在各种癌症中表达变化，还描述了由Kir5.1功能不全引起的几种其他疾病表型。版权所有2023年张和郭。

The inward-rectifying potassium channel subunit Kir5.1, encoded by Kcnj16, can form functional heteromeric channels (Kir4.1/5.1 and Kir4.2/5.1) with Kir4.1 (encoded by Kcnj10) or Kir4.2 (encoded by Kcnj15). It is expressed in the kidneys, pancreas, thyroid, brain, and other organs. Although Kir5.1 cannot form functional homomeric channels in most cases, an increasing number of studies in recent years have found that the functions of this subunit should not be underestimated. Kir5.1 can confer intracellular pH sensitivity to Kir4.1/5.1 channels, which can act as extracellular potassium sensors in the renal distal convoluted tubule segment. This segment plays an important role in maintaining potassium and acid-base balances. This review summarizes the various pathophysiological processes involved in Kir5.1 and the expression changes of Kir5.1 as a differentially expressed gene in various cancers, as well as describing several other disease phenotypes caused by Kir5.1 dysfunction.Copyright © 2023 Zhang and Guo.