title: Pharmacology of L-type Calcium Channels: Novel Drugs for Old Targets?
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Institute of Pharmacy, Center for Molecular Biosciences, University of Innsbruck, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria. joerg.striessnig@uibk.ac.at.
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Striessnig
authors.forename: Nadine J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Ortner
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pinggera
mesh_terms: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000145:classification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000145:classification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020746:Calcium Channels, L-Type / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D015640:Ion Channel Gating / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D008954:Models, Biological; D009154:Mutation; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D020746:Calcium Channels, L-Type; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D021122:Protein Subunits