title: Mechanistic view of renal protective action of calcium channel blockade.
abstract: Calcium channel blockers are one of the most useful antihypertensive agents because of their definite blood pressure lowering action. Although the antihypertensive effect of calcium channel blockers is attributed predominantly to the blockade of L-type calcium channels, recent studies demonstrate that the blockade of other subtypes of calcium channels, including T-type and N-type calcium channels, offers renal protective action because of their beneficial action on glomerular capillary pressure, renal fibrotic process, sympathetic nerve activity and aldosterone synthesis. It requires more extensive studies to clarify whether the ostensibly beneficial actions of these calcium channel blockers are available in a clinical setting.
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sugano
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: Tatsuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hosoya
authors.affiliation: Division of Kidney and Hypertension, Department of Internal Medicine, The Jikei University School of Medicine, 3-19-18 Nishi-Shinbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-8471, Japan. n-sugano@jikei.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yokoo
mesh_terms: D000450:Aldosterone / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020746:Calcium Channels, L-Type / Q000187:drug effects*; D020864:Calcium Channels, N-Type / Q000187:drug effects*; D002196:Capillaries / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000098:blood supply; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D020746:Calcium Channels, L-Type; D020864:Calcium Channels, N-Type; D000450:Aldosterone