Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 7, 2026

Optimized Transfection Strategy for Expression and Electrophysiological Recording of Recombinant Voltage-Gated Ion Channels in HEK-293T Cells
12:59

Optimized Transfection Strategy for Expression and Electrophysiological Recording of Recombinant Voltage-Gated Ion Channels in HEK-293T Cells

Published on: January 19, 2011

33.4K

Involvement of Voltage-Gated Calcium Channels in Inflammation and Inflammatory Pain

Fumiko Sekiguchi1, Maho Tsubota1, Atsufumi Kawabata1

  • 1Laboratory of Pharmacology and Pathophysiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kindai University.

Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin
|August 3, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs) are implicated in inflammatory pain. The Cav3.2 T-type VGCC shows promise as a therapeutic target for visceral inflammatory pain conditions.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Pharmacology
  • Pain Research

Background:

  • Voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs) are crucial for neuronal function.
  • High-voltage-activated (HVA) channels and T-type (Cav3.1-3.3) channels represent distinct VGCC classes.
  • Gabapentinoids, targeting HVA α2δ subunits, are effective in neuropathic and inflammatory pain.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of Cav3.2 T-type VGCC in visceral inflammation and pain.
  • To explore Cav3.2 as a potential therapeutic target for inflammatory pain disorders.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on VGCCs, inflammatory mediators, and pain pathways.
  • Analysis of Cav3.2 expression and function in primary afferents.
  • Examination of inflammatory mediator modulation of Cav3.2 activity.

Main Results:

  • Cav3.2 is highly expressed in primary afferents, influencing neuronal excitability and neurotransmitter release.
  • Inflammatory mediators like hydrogen sulfide (H2S) modulate Cav3.2 activity.
  • Increased Cav3.2 activity by H2S is linked to colonic, bladder, and pancreatic pain and visceral inflammation.

Conclusions:

  • VGCCs, particularly Cav3.2 T-type channels, play a significant role in inflammation and inflammatory pain.
  • Cav3.2 represents a promising therapeutic target for visceral inflammatory pain conditions such as IBS, IC/BPS, and pancreatitis.

Keywords:
Cav3.2 T-type calcium channelinflammatory painneuropathic painvisceral painvoltage-gated calcium channel (VGCC)

More Related Videos

Author Spotlight: Enhanced Method for Evaluating Analgesic Effects — Dual Hind Paw Carrageenan Injection in Mice06:54

Author Spotlight: Enhanced Method for Evaluating Analgesic Effects — Dual Hind Paw Carrageenan Injection in Mice

Published on: November 15, 2024

2.7K
Reconstitution of a Transmembrane Protein, the Voltage-gated Ion Channel, KvAP, into Giant Unilamellar Vesicles for Microscopy and Patch Clamp Studies11:42

Reconstitution of a Transmembrane Protein, the Voltage-gated Ion Channel, KvAP, into Giant Unilamellar Vesicles for Microscopy and Patch Clamp Studies

Published on: January 22, 2015

19.9K

Related Concept Videos

Voltage-gated Ion Channels01:26

Voltage-gated Ion Channels

Voltage-gated ion channels are transmembrane proteins that open and close in response to changes in the membrane potential. They are present on the membranes of all electrically excitable cells such as neurons, heart, and muscle cells.
Generally, all voltage-gated ion channels have a 'voltage-sensing domain' that spans the lipid bilayer. The charged residues in the sensor move in response to the membrane potential changes that open the channel allowing ions movement. There are several types of...
10.9K
Non-gated Ion Channels01:24

Non-gated Ion Channels

Ion channels are specialized proteins on the plasma membrane that allow charged ions to pass down their electrochemical gradient. Their main function is to maintain the membrane potential which is critical for cell viability. These channels are either gated or non-gated and can transport more than a thousand ions within milliseconds for the cellular event to occur.
Compared to the gated ion channels, the non-gated channels, also known as leakage or passive channels, have no gating mechanism....
8.3K
Mechanically-gated Ion Channels01:12

Mechanically-gated Ion Channels

Mechanically-gated ion channels are proteins found in eukaryotic and prokaryotic cell membranes that open in response to mechanical stress. Tension, compression, swelling, and shear stress can alter the conformation of the protein, opening a transmembrane channel that allows the passage of ions for signal transmission. In eukaryotes, mechanically-gated channels are distributed in several regions like the neurons, lungs, skin, bladder, and heart, where they play critical roles in numerous...
7.8K
Ligand-gated Ion Channels01:19

Ligand-gated Ion Channels

Ligand-gated ion channels are transmembrane proteins with a channel for ions to pass through and a binding site for a ligand. The channel opens only when a ligand attaches to the binding site.
Three Subfamilies of Ligand-gated Ion Channels
Ligand-gated ion channels fall into three subfamilies. The 'Cys-loop' includes the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glycine, and 5-hydroxytryptamine receptors. The second one is the 'Pore-loop' channels that...
14.4K
G-Protein Gated Ion Channels01:21

G-Protein Gated Ion Channels

GPCRs are primarily responsible for our sense of smell, taste, and vision.  The binding of a sensory stimulus activates GPCR to stimulate effector proteins, many of which are ion channels in the sensory organs. GPCRs modulate the opening and closing of the target ion channels either directly by binding them, or by releasing second messengers that activate these channels. As ions move across the membrane, the membrane potential is altered, which induces an appropriate response.
Sensory...
5.7K
Ligand-Gated Ion Channel Receptor: Gating Mechanism01:30

Ligand-Gated Ion Channel Receptor: Gating Mechanism

Ligand-gated ion channels are transmembrane proteins that play a vital role in intercellular communication and functions of the nervous system. They allow the influx of ions across the membrane once the neurotransmitter binds, allowing the subsequent transmission of electrical excitation across the neurons. Other ligand-gated ion channels, like the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor, permit anions like chloride into the cells on the binding of the GABA molecule. Their entry into the cell...
4.0K