title: [Endothelial ion channels -- novel targets for antihypertensive therapy].
abstract: Endothelial cation channel are important regulators of vascular tone by modulating intracellular Ca(2+)-signaling and thus adequate synthesis of vasodilating factors. The overall importance of these ion channels suggests that they may represent novel pharmacotherapeutic targets in addition to the well-known voltage-gated calcium channels in vascular smooth muscle. In this short overview we summarize the current knowledge about endothelial ion channels and their roles for endothelium-dependent vasodilatation. Furthermore, we perspectively discuss the usefulness of specific openers of endothelial Ca(2+)-activated K(+)-channels and TRPV-channels as novel antihypertensive drugs.
authors.affiliation: Zentrum für Innere Medizin--Schwerpunkt Nephrologie, Universitätsklinikum der Philipps-Universität Marburg.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Maier
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Grgic
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Busch
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hoyer
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Köhler
mesh_terms: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000378:metabolism; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010539:Permeability / Q000187:drug effects; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D015220:Calcium Channels; D007473:Ion Channels; D015221:Potassium Channels