Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 23, 2026

Mesenteric Artery Contraction and Relaxation Studies Using Automated Wire Myography
Published on: September 22, 2011
[Impact of CACNA1C polymorphisms on antihypertensive efficacy of calcium channel blocker]
Qian Sun1, Qing-xian Li, Xi-fa Song
1Department of Clinical Laboratory, Wenzhou Medical College, Wenzhou, China.
Insights
Genetic variations in CACNA1C influence calcium channel blocker efficacy for essential hypertension. Patients with wild genotypes of rs2299661 and rs216008 showed better blood pressure reduction with CCB monotherapy.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacogenomics
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Essential hypertension (EH) is a prevalent cardiovascular condition.
- Calcium channel blockers (CCBs) are widely used for hypertension management.
- Genetic factors may influence individual responses to CCB therapy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between CACNA1C gene polymorphisms and the effectiveness of CCB (Nifedipine) in Han Chinese patients with essential hypertension.
- To identify genetic markers that predict CCB response in this population.
Main Methods:
- Genotyping of five CACNA1C single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs): rs216008, rs1051375, rs2299661, rs10848683, and rs215976 using Multiplex PCR and MLDI-TOF MS.
- Comparison of blood pressure reduction after CCB monotherapy (Nifedipine 20 mg/d) among patients with different genotypes.
- Enrollment of 103 EH patients from Wenzhou.
Main Results:
- CCB treatment significantly reduced blood pressure in all patients (P < 0.05).
- Greater reduction in diastolic blood pressure was observed in patients with the rs2299661 C/C (wild) genotype compared to mutational genotypes (P < 0.05).
- Greater reduction in systolic blood pressure was observed in patients with the rs216008 C/C (wild) genotype compared to the C/T (mutational) genotype (P < 0.05).
- No significant differences in blood pressure reduction were found for genotypes rs1051375, rs10848683, and rs215976.
Conclusions:
- Wild genotypes of rs2299661 and rs216008 in the CACNA1C gene are associated with a better response to CCB monotherapy in essential hypertension.
- These findings suggest potential for genotype-guided CCB selection in EH patients.
- CACNA1C polymorphisms may serve as predictive biomarkers for CCB efficacy.
Objective:
To explore the relationship between genetic polymorphisms of CACNA1C that encoded the a1c subunit of the L-type calcium channel and the efficacy of calcium channel blocker (CCB, Nifedipine extended release tablet/20 mg/d) in essential hypertension (EH) patients of Han Chinese in Wenzhou.
Methods:
For the enrolled 103 EH patients, Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction (Multi-PCR) and matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight MS (MLDI-TOF MS) were performed to detect their genotypes (rs216008, rs1051375, rs2299661, rs10848683, rs215976), blood pressure (BP) after CCB monotherapy was compared among patients with different genotypes.
Results:
(1) Blood pressure was significantly reduced in all patients post CCB (P < 0.05 vs. pre-CCB). (2) Diastolic blood pressure reduction was more significant in subjects with rs2299661 C/C genotype (wild genotype) than in subjects with rs2299661C/G and rs2299661G/G genotype (mutational genotype) [(12.46 ± 7.91) mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa) vs. (7.22 ± 8.01) mm Hg and (5.93 ± 9.77) mm Hg, P < 0.05]. (3) Systolic blood pressure reduction was more significant in subjects with rs216008 C/C genotype (wild genotype) than in subjects with rs216008 C/T genotype (mutational genotype) [(20.60 ± 12.35) mm Hg vs. (13.62 ± 10.21) mm Hg, P < 0.05]. (4) Blood pressure reduction was similar between subjects with genotype of rs1051375, rs10848683 and rs215976.
Conclusion:
EH patients with wild genotype of rs2299661 and rs216008 in CACNA1C are more likely to be responders of CCB monotherapy.
Related Concept Videos
Antihypertensive Drugs: Action of Calcium Channel Blockers
Antianginal Drugs: Calcium Channel Blockers and Ranolazine
CCBs, a diverse class that includes dihydropyridines (nifedipine) and diphenylalkylamines (verapamil and diltiazem), exert their effect by blocking calcium channels in cardiac and smooth muscle cells. This...
Pharmacogenetic Phenotypes: Alterations in Pharmacokinetics, Drug Targets and Biologic Milieu
Heart Failure Drugs: Inhibitors of Renin-Angiotensin System
Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class IV Agents as Calcium Channel Blockers
Verapamil, a calcium channel blocker, inhibits calcium movement across myocardial cell membranes and vascular smooth muscle. This results in the dilation of coronary and...
Pharmacogenetics of Drug Transporters: P-Glycoprotein and Solute Carrier Transporters