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Current Medicinal Chemistry

Editor-in-Chief

ISSN (Print): 0929-8673
ISSN (Online): 1875-533X

The L-Type Ca2+ Channel as a Therapeutic Target in Heart Disease

Author(s): H. M. Viola, W. A. Macdonald, H. Tang and L. C. Hool

Volume 16, Issue 26, 2009

Page: [3341 - 3358] Pages: 18

DOI: 10.2174/092986709789057671

Price: $65

Abstract

The L-type Ca2+ channel plays a critical role in cardiac function as the main route for entry of calcium into cardiac myocytes. It is essential to excitability as it shapes the long plateau phase of the cardiac action potential that is unique to cardiac ventricular myocytes. It is necessary for contraction as it triggers the release of calcium from sarcoplasmic reticulum stores for actin-myosin interaction. The L-type Ca2+ channel also regulates cytoplasmic calcium levels. It is well recognized that an increase in intracellular calcium is involved in the activation of growth-promoting signal pathways. Recently, reactive oxygen species have been implicated in the activation of signal pathways and the development of pathological hypertrophy. There is now evidence that implicates activation of the L-type Ca2+ channel with persistent alterations in calcium homeostasis and cellular reactive oxygen species production as a possible trigger of cardiac hypertrophy. A number of different approaches have been used to modify channel function with the view to preventing ischemiareperfusion injury, cardiac hypertrophy or cardiac failure providing good evidence that the L-type Ca2+ channel may be an efficacious target in the prevention of cardiac pathology.

Keywords: L-type Ca2+ channel, calcium homeostasis, reactive oxygen species, cardiac hypertrophy, L-type Ca2+ channel antagonists


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