Combined L-/T-Type Calcium Channel Blockers

Abstract

HomeHypertensionVol. 53, No. 4Combined L-/T-Type Calcium Channel Blockers Free AccessEditorialPDF/EPUBAboutView PDFView EPUBSections ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload citationsTrack citationsPermissions ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InMendeleyReddit Jump toFree AccessEditorialPDF/EPUBCombined L-/T-Type Calcium Channel BlockersReady for Prime Time Wei Ge and Jun Ren Wei GeWei Ge From the Department of Geriatrics (W.G., J.R.), Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China; and Center for Cardiovascular Research and Alternative Medicine (J.R.), University of Wyoming College of Health Sciences, Laramie, Wy. Search for more papers by this author and Jun RenJun Ren From the Department of Geriatrics (W.G., J.R.), Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China; and Center for Cardiovascular Research and Alternative Medicine (J.R.), University of Wyoming College of Health Sciences, Laramie, Wy. Search for more papers by this author Originally published23 Feb 2009https://doi.org/10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.108.127548Hypertension. 2009;53:592–594Other version(s) of this articleYou are viewing the most recent version of this article. Previous versions: February 23, 2009: Previous Version 1 Opening of the voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels permits influx of Ca2+ across the plasma membrane, triggering diverse physiological processes. These channels are widely distributed in the cardiovascular system, constituting the main route for Ca2+ entry essential for excitation and contraction. Ten unique α1 subunits, grouped in 3 families (CaV1, CaV2, and CaV3), that encode the low-voltage–activated T-type and the high-voltage–activated L-, N-, P/Q- and R-type Ca2+ channels, have been identified.1,2 L-type Ca2+ channels are predominantly expressed in the hearts and peripheral vasculature and serve as the preferred molecular target of the initial Ca2+ channel antagonists in the treatment of hypertension.3Recently, a growing body of evidence has accumulated depicting important roles of T-type Ca2+ channels in the regulation of cardiovascular function, such as generation of pacemaker potential and regulation of arterial resistance.3,4 T-type Ca2+ channels are found in various cell types, including neurons, cardiomyocytes, vascular smooth muscle cells, and endocrine cells, where they participate in a variety of physiological processes, such as low-threshold Ca2+ spike generation, action potential firing, pacemaking, impulse conduction, maintenance of myogenic tone, cell proliferation, and hormone secretion.1 In addition to their predominant role in the regulation of vascular function, T-type Ca2+ channels are also involved in cardiomyocyte growth and survival.3 T-type Ca2+ channel blockers are capable of interrupting certain pathological hypertrophic signaling pathways, including calcineurin-mediated nuclear factor of activated T cells–3 activation.1The importance of voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels is demonstrated by the clinical efficacy of Ca2+ channels blockers in certain disease conditions, as well as the widespread distribution and function of these channels.1 Three classes of chemically distinct L-type Ca2+ channel blockers have been widely used clinically depending on their biophysical and conformation-dependent interactions with the L-type Ca2+ channel. These 3 classes include the dihydropyridine, the phenylalkylamine (verapamil), and the benzothiazepine (diltiazem). Dihydropyridines are characterized by greater potency as vasodilators with less cardiodepressant properties than the other 2 types of Ca2+ channel blockers.Although the clinical benefits of L-type Ca2+ channel blockers have been well defined, the clinical value of T-type Ca2+ channel blockade remains somewhat elusive. The newly developed dihydropyridine Ca2+ channel blockers, including manidipine, nilvadipine, benidipine, and efonidipine, as well as the benzimidazole mibefradil, appear to possess vasodilatory properties other than blockade of L-type Ca2+ channels.1,4 These Ca2+ channel blockers may antagonize both L- and T-type Ca2+ channels, which possibly underlie their excellent clinical profiles, such as minimum reflex tachycardia and renal protection. Nonetheless, controversy still exists with regard to the precise role of T-type Ca2+ channels in the regulation of vascular tone. Mice deficient in CaV3.2 T-type Ca2+ channels display normal contractile responses and reduced acetylcholine-induced relaxation.2 Moreover, mibefradil exerts little effect on blood pressure or peripheral resistance in mice with conditional knockout of L-type Ca2+ channels.2 R(–)-enantiomer of efonidipine, with a greater selectivity for T-type Ca2+ channels over efonidipine, fails to alter blood pressure in hypertensive rats. The presence of T- but not L-type Ca2+ channel mRNA, was confirmed in microvessels with a diameter <40 μm.5 T-type Ca2+ channels are highly expressed in the microvasculature, including mesenteric and cremaster arterioles. Inhibition of these channels by mibefradil dampens vasoconstriction of these arterioles, although such effect seems to be attributed to L-type Ca2+ channel blockade.2In this issue of Hypertension, Ball et al6 compared the inhibition of vascular contractile responses by L-type Ca2+ channel blockers (verapamil and nifedipine) and combined L-/T-type Ca2+channel blockers (mibefradil and efonidipine) in large conduit (rat aorta) and small (rat mesenteric and human subcutaneous) vessels. Although all 4 of the Ca2+ channel blockers inhibited contractile responses to a similar extent in large vessels, the combined L-/T-type Ca2+ channel blockers produced a significantly greater inhibition of contraction than L-type Ca2+ channel blockers alone in small vessels. Such a differential T-channel effect in microvessels was supported by a greater expression of T-type as opposed to L-type Ca2+ channels in microvessels but not large vessels. Given that microvessels play a pivotal role in the regulation of blood pressure, renal perfusion, and coronary blood flow, their findings implicate that T-type Ca2+ channels may contribute to the additional benefits of the combined L-/T-type Ca2+ blockers in treating renal and cardiovascular diseases, beyond their primary antihypertensive effects from blocking L-type Ca2+ channels.Combined L-/T-type Ca2+ blockers have been demonstrated to be superior to L-type Ca2+ channel blockers in renal microcirculation.2 Inhibition of L-type Ca2+ channel causes dilation of afferent but not efferent arterioles, which potentially results in glomerular hypertension. This observation also indicates an intrarenal heterogeneity in the distribution of L-type Ca2+ channels. To the contrary, combined L-/T-type Ca2+ channel blockers, eg, mibefradil and efonidipine, dilate afferent and efferent arterioles, suggesting the presence of T-type Ca2+ channels in both arterioles, as well as a potential impact on intraglomerular pressure and renoprotection of combined L-/T-type Ca2+ blockers.2 However, other factors, such as the microheterogeneity of vascular beds and other types of Ca2+ influx, cannot be excluded.3 In addition, data from Ball et al6 provide further support for an important role for the T-type Ca2+ channel in the regulation of contractile responses in the microvasculature. Although the precise role of T-type Ca2+ channels in vascular beds remains to be determined, they may be associated with gene-activated cell replication and growth during pathological changes in the vasculature.3Combined L-/T-type Ca2+ channel blockers may possess greater efficacy than classical L-type Ca2+ channel blockers in the management of blood pressure and renal function. In a recent clinical investigation, >80% of patients displayed a significant reduction of blood pressure or achieved optimal blood pressure after a switch from amlodipine to benidipine. Moreover, the changeover improved urinary protein excretion and glomerular filtration rate, which correlated with reduced urinary protein.7 These observations are consistent with better antihypertensive and renoprotective effects of the combined L-/T-Ca2+ channel blockers. In addition, combined L-/T-type Ca2+ channel blockers possess a superior endothelial effect. The endothelial function index, a ratio of flow-mediated dilatation:nitroglycerin-mediated dilatation, was significantly increased in patients with essential hypertension after treatment of efonidipine but not nifedipine. Meanwhile, urinary excretion 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine and serum malondialdehyde-modified low-density lipoprotein were decreased by efonidipine but not nifedipine, indicating a likely role of oxidative stress reduction in the efonidipine-induced improvement of vascular endothelial dysfunction.8 A schematic diagram is provided illustrating the benefit of combined L-/T-type Ca2+ channel blockers (Figure). Download figureDownload PowerPointFigure. Schematic diagram illustrating vascular regulatory effects of L-type and combined L-/T-type Ca2+ channel blockers in large and microvessels. The L-type Ca2+ channels (LCC) are predominantly expressed in large vessels, whereas T-type Ca2+ channels (TCC) prevail mainly in microvessels. The tissue heterogeneity of TCC and less undesirable effects may offer additional benefit for the combined L-/T-type Ca2+ channel blockers. The “T” end arrows denote inhibition.One common adverse effect of the L-type Ca2+ channel blockers is vasodilatory edema. Combined L-/T-type Ca2+ channel blockers, such as mibefradil, display antihypertensive efficacy similar to their predecessors with much less propensity of edema formation. It is believed that combined L-/T-type Ca2+ channel blockers equalize the hydrostatic pressure across the capillary bed through equal arteriolar and venular dilatation, thus reducing vasodilatory edema.9 Taken together, the incremental microcirculatory benefits of the combined L-/T-type Ca2+ channel blockers over the conventional L-type Ca2+ channel blockers are likely attributed to their additional T-type Ca2+ channel blocking properties and the increased presence of T-type Ca2+channels in the microvasculature. However, adverse events associated with Ca2+ channel blockers, especially the high-profile withdrawal of mibefradil from the market because of unfavorable drug-drug interaction, have led to a heated controversy over the safety, efficacy, and overall clinical merit of combined L-/T-type Ca2+ channel blockers. In general, these Ca2+ channel blockers, like other dihydropyridine Ca2+ channel blockers, demonstrate a more desirable profile when used as part of combination therapy.10 Additional study is warranted to quantify T- and L-type Ca2+ channels in the human vasculature and to assess the risk:benefit ratio of L-/T-type Ca2+ channel blockers. These efforts should foster novel approaches to discover potent and selective T-type Ca2+ channel modulators not only as potential drugs in the therapeutic armamentarium against cardiovascular disease but also as tools for a better understanding of the physiological roles of T-type Ca2+ channels.The opinions expressed in this editorial are not necessarily those of the editors or of the American Heart Association.Sources of FundingThe work in the laboratory of J.R. was supported by National Institutes of Health University of Wyoming Northern Rockies Regional IDeA (institutional development award) network of biomedical research excellence (5P20RR016474).DisclosuresNone.FootnotesCorrespondence to Jun Ren, Center for Cardiovascular Research and Alternative Medicine, University of Wyoming College of Health Sciences, Laramie, WY 82071. E-mail [email protected] References 1 McGivern JG. Pharmacology and drug discovery for T-type calcium channels. CNS Neurol Disord Drug Targets. 2006; 5: 587–603.CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2 Hayashi K, Wakino S, Sugano N, Ozawa Y, Homma K, Saruta T. Ca2+ channel subtypes and pharmacology in the kidney. Circ Res. 2007; 100: 342–353.LinkGoogle Scholar3 Richard S. Vascular effects of calcium channel antagonists: new evidence. Drug. 2005; 65: 1–10.CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4 Perez-Reyes E. Molecular physiology of low-voltage-activated t-type calcium channels. Physiol Rev. 2003; 83: 117–161.CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5 Gustafsson F, Andreasen D, Salomonsson M, Jensen B, Holstein-Rathlou N. Conducted vasoconstriction in rat mesenteric arterioles: role for dihydropyridine-insensitive Ca2+ channels. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2001; 280: H582–H590.CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar6 Ball CJ, Wilson DP, Turner SP, Saint DA, Beltrame JF. Heterogeneity of L- and T-channels in the vasculature: rationale for the efficacy of combined L- and T-blockade. Hypertension. 2009; 53: 654–660.LinkGoogle Scholar7 Ohishi M, Takagi T, Ito N, Terai M, Tatara Y, Hayashi N, Shiota A, Katsuya T, Rakugi H, Ogihara T. Renal-protective effect of T-and L-type calcium channel blockers in hypertensive patients: an Amlodipine-to-Benidipine Changeover (ABC) study. Hypertens Res. 2007; 30: 797–806.CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar8 Oshima T, Ozono R, Yano Y, Higashi Y, Teragawa H, Miho N, Ishida T, Ishida M, Yoshizumi M, Kambe M. Beneficial effect of T-type calcium channel blockers on endothelial function in patients with essential hypertension. Hypertens Res. 2005; 28: 889–894.CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar9 Major TC, Dhamija S, Black N, Liachenko S, Morenko B, Sobocinski G, Okerberg C, Tinholt P, Madore S, Kowala MC. The T- and L-type calcium channel blocker (CCB) mibefradil attenuates leg edema induced by the L-type CCB nifedipine in the spontaneously hypertensive rat: a novel differentiating assay. 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