Journal article
Role of T-type channels in vasomotor function: team player or chameleon?
Pfluegers Archiv: European Journal of Physiology, Vol.466(4), pp.767-779
2014
Abstract
Low-voltage-activated T-type calcium channels play an important role in regulating cellular excitability and are implicated in conditions, such as epilepsy and neuropathic pain. T-type channels, especially Cav3.1 and Cav3.2, are also expressed in the vasculature, although patch clamp studies of isolated vascular smooth muscle cells have in general failed to demonstrate these low-voltage-activated calcium currents. By contrast, the channels which are blocked by T-type channel antagonists are high-voltage activated but distinguishable from their L-type counterparts by their T-type biophysical properties and small negative shifts in activation and inactivation voltages. These changes in T-channel properties may result from vascular-specific expression of splice variants of Cav3 genes, particularly in exon 25/26 of the III-IV linker region. Recent physiological studies suggest that T-type channels make a small contribution to vascular tone at low intraluminal pressures, although the relevance of this contribution is unclear. By contrast, these channels play a larger role in vascular tone of small arterioles, which would be expected to function at lower intra-vascular pressures. Upregulation of T-type channel function following decrease in nitric oxide bioavailability and increase in oxidative stress, which occurs during cardiovascular disease, suggests that a more important role could be played by these channels in pathophysiological situations. The ability of T-type channels to be rapidly recruited to the plasma membrane, coupled with their subtype-specific localisation in signalling microdomains where they could modulate the function of calcium-dependent ion channels and pathways, provides a mechanism for rapid up- and downregulation of vasoconstriction. Future investigation into the molecules which govern these changes may illuminate novel targets for the treatment of conditions such as therapy-resistant hypertension and vasospasm.
Details
- Title
- Role of T-type channels in vasomotor function: team player or chameleon?
- Authors
- Ivana Y-T Kuo (Author) - Australian National UniversityLauren Howitt (Author) - Australian National UniversityShaun L Sandow (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and EngineeringAlexandra McFarlane (Author) - Australian National UniversityPernille B Hansen (Author) - University of Southern DenmarkCaryl E Hill (Author) - Australian National University
- Publication details
- Pfluegers Archiv: European Journal of Physiology, Vol.466(4), pp.767-779
- Publisher
- Springer
- Date published
- 2014
- DOI
- 10.1007/s00424-013-1430-x
- ISSN
- 0031-6768
- Organisation Unit
- School of Health - Biomedicine; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Health and Sport Sciences - Legacy; School of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Legacy
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99449000902621
- Output Type
- Journal article
Metrics
6 File views/ downloads
845 Record Views
InCites Highlights
These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output
- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web Of Science research areas
- Physiology
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:
Source: InCites