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(Hypertension. 2009;53:592.)
© 2009 American Heart Association, Inc.

Editorial Commentaries

Combined L-/T-Type Calcium Channel Blockers

Ready for Prime Time

Wei Ge; Jun Ren

From the Department of Geriatrics (W.G., J.R.), Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China; and Center for Cardiovascular Research and Alternative Medicine (J.R.), University of Wyoming College of Health Sciences, Laramie, Wy.

Correspondence to Jun Ren, Center for Cardiovascular Research and Alternative Medicine, University of Wyoming College of Health Sciences, Laramie, WY 82071. E-mail jren@uwyo.edu

An extract of the first 250 words of the full text is provided, because this article has no abstract.

Opening of the voltage-dependent Ca²⁺ channels permits influx of Ca²⁺ across the plasma membrane, triggering diverse physiological processes. These channels are widely distributed in the cardiovascular system, constituting the main route for Ca²⁺ entry essential for excitation and contraction. Ten unique 1 subunits, grouped in 3 families (CaV1, CaV2, and CaV3), that encode the low-voltage–activated T-type and the high-voltage–activated L-, N-, P/Q- and R-type Ca²⁺ channels, have been identified.^1,2 L-type Ca²⁺ channels are predominantly expressed in the hearts and peripheral vasculature and serve as the preferred molecular target of the initial Ca²⁺ channel antagonists in the treatment of hypertension.³

Recently, a growing body of evidence has accumulated depicting important roles of T-type Ca²⁺ channels in the regulation of cardiovascular function, such as generation of pacemaker potential and regulation of arterial resistance.^3,4 T-type Ca²⁺ channels are found in various cell types, including neurons, cardiomyocytes, vascular smooth muscle cells, and endocrine cells, where they participate in a variety of physiological processes, such as low-threshold Ca²⁺ spike generation, action potential firing, pacemaking, impulse conduction, maintenance of myogenic tone, cell proliferation, and hormone secretion.¹ In addition to their predominant role in the regulation of vascular function, T-type Ca²⁺ channels are also involved in cardiomyocyte growth and survival.³ T-type Ca²⁺ channel blockers are capable of interrupting certain pathological hypertrophic signaling pathways, including calcineurin-mediated nuclear factor of activated T cells–3 activation.¹

The importance of voltage-dependent Ca²⁺ channels is demonstrated by the clinical efficacy of Ca²⁺ channels blockers in certain disease conditions, as well as the widespread . . . [Full Text of this Article]

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Heterogeneity of L- and T-Channels in the Vasculature: Rationale for the Efficacy of Combined L- and T-Blockade

Christine J. Ball, David P. Wilson, Stuart P. Turner, David A. Saint, and John F. Beltrame
Hypertension 2009 53: 654-660. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]