Voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs) play an important role in regulating brain, heart, and muscle function. Dysfunction of VGCCs can lead to neurological conditions and diseases. VGCCs mediate calcium entry from outside the cell and open in response to membrane depolarization. There are several types of VGCCs including L-type, N-type, and T-type calcium channels. VGCCs are involved in various pathways and diseases such as primary afferent pain pathways, thalamocortical circuitry, degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson's disease, and drug addiction. Calcium channel blockers have been used successfully to treat some conditions and may be a potential therapeutic approach

1. VOLTAGE-GATED CALCIUM CHANNELS (VGCC)
AND ITS ROLE IN NEUROLOGICAL DISEASES
Ade Wijaya, MD – January 2019

2. INTRODUCTION
• VGCC : Important regulator of brain, heart, and muscle function
• Its dysfunction leads to neurological conditions/diseases
• Calcium channel blockers have been used successfully to treat absence
seizures, and are emerging as potential therapeutic avenues for
pathologies such as pain, Parkinson disease, addiction and anxiety
Zamponi GW. Targeting voltage-gated calcium channels in neurological and psychiatric diseases. Nature reviews Drug discovery. 2016 Jan;15(1):19.

3. VGCC
• VGCC is one of the key mediators of calcium entry from the extracellular
space.
• A family of membrane proteins that open in response to membrane
depolarization to permit the influx of calcium along its electrochemical
gradient
Catterall, W. A., Perez-Reyes, E., Snutch, T. P. & Striessnig, J. International union of pharmacology. XLVIII. Nomenclature and structure-function relationships of voltage-gated calcium channels. Pharmacol. Rev. 57, 411–
425 (2005)Zamponi GW, Striessnig J, Koschak A, Dolphin AC. The physiology, pathology, and pharmacology of voltage-gated calcium channels and their future therapeutic potential. Pharmacological reviews. 2015 Oct 1;67(4):821-70.

4. CAV1 CHANNEL FAMILY
(LTCC)
Zamponi GW, Striessnig J, Koschak A, Dolphin AC. The physiology, pathology, and pharmacology of voltage-gated
calcium channels and their future therapeutic potential. Pharmacological reviews. 2015 Oct 1;67(4):821-70.

5. MODULATION OF LTCC
BY DRUGS, TOXINS, AND SIGNALING PATHWAYS.
Zamponi GW, Striessnig J, Koschak A, Dolphin AC. The physiology, pathology, and pharmacology of voltage-gated calcium channels and their future therapeutic potential. Pharmacological reviews. 2015 Oct 1;67(4):821-70.
L TYPE N TYPE T TYPE

6. Zamponi GW. Targeting voltage-gated calcium channels in neurological and psychiatric diseases. Nature reviews Drug discovery. 2016 Jan;15(1):19.

7. ROLE OF VGCC IN THE PRIMARY
AFFERENT PAIN PATHWAY
Zamponi GW. Targeting voltage-gated calcium channels in neurological and psychiatric diseases. Nature reviews Drug discovery. 2016 Jan;15(1):19.

8. ROLE OF T-TYPE CALCIUM CHANNELS IN
THE THALAMOCORTICAL CIRCUITRY
Zamponi GW. Targeting voltage-gated calcium channels in neurological and psychiatric diseases. Nature reviews Drug discovery. 2016 Jan;15(1):19.

9. ROLE OF L-TYPE CALCIUM CHANNELS IN
THE DEGENERATION OF DOPAMINERGIC
NEURONS DURING PARKINSON DISEASE
Zamponi GW. Targeting voltage-gated calcium channels in neurological and psychiatric diseases. Nature reviews Drug discovery. 2016 Jan;15(1):19.

10. ROLE OF L-TYPE CALCIUM CHANNELS IN
DRUG ADDICTION
Zamponi GW. Targeting voltage-gated calcium channels in neurological and psychiatric diseases. Nature reviews Drug discovery. 2016 Jan;15(1):19.