Snutch TP, Zamponi GW. Recent advances in the development of T-type calcium channel blockers for pain intervention.
Br J Pharmacol 2018;
175:2375-2383. [PMID:
28608534 PMCID:
PMC5980537 DOI:
10.1111/bph.13906]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2017] [Revised: 05/19/2017] [Accepted: 06/05/2017] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Cav 3.2 T-type calcium channels are important regulators of pain signals in the afferent pain pathway, and their activities are dysregulated during various chronic pain states. Therefore, it is reasonable to predict that inhibiting T-type calcium channels in dorsal root ganglion neurons and in the spinal dorsal horn can be targeted for pain relief. This is supported by early pharmacological studies with T-type channel blockers, such as ethosuximide, and by analgesic effects of siRNA depletion of Cav 3.2 channels. In the past 5 years, considerable effort has been applied towards identifying novel classes of T-type calcium channel blockers. Here, we review recent developments in the discovery of novel classes of T-type calcium channel blockers, and their analgesic effects in animal models of pain and in clinical trials.
LINKED ARTICLES
This article is part of a themed section on Recent Advances in Targeting Ion Channels to Treat Chronic Pain. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v175.12/issuetoc.
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