Voltage-gated calcium channel (L-type and T-type) (VGCC)

Voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs) are essential transmembrane proteins that regulate the influx of calcium ions into cells following membrane depolarization (IUPHAR/BPS Guide to Pharmacology, 2023). This grouping encompasses two distinct functional classes: L-type (Long-lasting) channels, which are high-voltage-activated (HVA), and T-type (Transient) channels, which are low-voltage-activated (LVA) (StatPearls, 2023). L-type channels (Cav1.1–Cav1.4) are predominantly expressed in muscle and endocrine cells, where they trigger muscle contraction and hormone secretion (UniProt, 2023). T-type channels (Cav3.1–Cav3.3) activate at more negative potentials and play a key role in regulating rhythmic electrical activity in the heart and central nervous system (PubMed, PMID: 11160518). Dysfunction in these channels is associated with a variety of conditions, including hypertension, cardiac arrhythmias, and absence seizures (NIH, 2023). Therapeutic agents known as calcium channel blockers (CCBs) target these proteins to manage cardiovascular and neurological disorders by reducing vascular resistance or dampening neuronal hyperexcitability (StatPearls, 2023).

Other names

L-type calcium channelT-type calcium channelLow-voltage-activated calcium channelHigh-voltage-activated calcium channelCav1Cav3VGCC

Inhibition of calcium ion influx through the channel pore in response to membrane depolarization, thereby reducing intracellular calcium concentrations and modulating cellular excitability and contractility (StatPearls, 2023).