Pharmacology of L-type Calcium Channels: Novel Drugs for Old Targets?

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Striessnig J, Ortner NJ, Pinggera A

Pharmacology of L-type Calcium Channels: Novel Drugs for Old Targets?

Curr Mol Pharmacol. 2015;8(2):110-22.

PubMed ID

25966690 [ View in PubMed

]

Abstract

Inhibition of voltage-gated L-type calcium channels by organic calcium channel blockers is a well-established pharmacodynamic concept for the treatment of hypertension and cardiac ischemia. Since decades these antihypertensives (such as the dihydropyridines amlodipine, felodipine or nifedipine) belong to the most widely prescribed drugs world-wide. Their tolerability is excellent because at therapeutic doses their pharmacological effects in humans are limited to the cardiovascular system. During the last years substantial progress has been made to reveal the physiological role of different L-type calcium channel isoforms in many other tissues, including the brain, endocrine and sensory cells. Moreover, there is accumulating evidence about their involvement in various human diseases, such as Parkinson's disease, neuropsychiatric disorders and hyperaldosteronism. In this review we discuss the pathogenetic role of L-type calcium channels, potential new indications for existing or isoform-selective compounds and strategies to minimize potential side effects.

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Drugs

Verapamil

Levamlodipine

Drug Targets

Drug	Target	Kind	Organism	Pharmacological Action	Actions
Amlodipine	Voltage-dependent T-type calcium channel subunit alpha-1I	Protein	Humans	Yes	Inhibitor	Details
Levamlodipine	Voltage-dependent L-type calcium channel subunit alpha-1C	Protein	Humans	Unknown	Antagonist	Details
Nifedipine	Voltage-dependent L-type calcium channel subunit beta-2	Protein	Humans	Yes	Inhibitor	Details