Inhibition of Kv1.3 with ShK or its derivatives has shown partial efficacy in preclinical autoimmune disease rat models including experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis15, 19, 20, pristane-induced arthritis15, and experimental autoimmune diabetes15, as well as in T-cell-dependent models of delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH)15, 21, allergic contact dermatitis22, 23 and asthma24. The gene discussed is KCNA3; the disease is autoimmune disease.