KCNMA1 and Hypertension: Even when the intricate mechanisms that underlie age-dependent change in BK channel activity and function remain to be fully explored, the finding of an age-dependent change of BK β1 subunit protein level and function in the smooth muscle gains particular importance in light of recent drug development efforts targeted at BK β1 subunit-containing channels for the treatment of such prevalent human pathologies as asthma and hypertension [25, 45, 46].