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Updated: Jul 13, 2025

Author Spotlight: Insights into the Techniques and Findings of Recent Advancements in Epilepsy Research
Published on: October 13, 2023
Voltage-gated calcium channels in genetic epilepsies
Robert J Lauerer1, Holger Lerche1
1Department of Neurology and Epileptology, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University and University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.
None:
Voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCC) are abundant in the central nervous system and serve a broad spectrum of functions, either directly in cellular excitability or indirectly to regulate Ca2+ homeostasis. Ca2+ ions act as one of the main connections in excitation-transcription coupling, muscle contraction and excitation-exocytosis coupling, including synaptic transmission. In recent years, many genes encoding VGCCs main α or additional auxiliary subunits have been associated with epilepsy. This review sums up the current state of knowledge on disease mechanisms and provides guidance on disease-specific therapies where applicable.
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