Mutations in voltage-gated L-type calcium channel genes cause gain- or loss-of-function that explain phenotypes of various cardiac arrhythmias, including long QT and Brugada syndromes.
This review provides a comprehensive overview of how specific mutations in L-type calcium channel genes contribute to the pathogenesis of various inherited cardiac arrhythmia syndromes.
The voltage-gated L-type calcium channel (LTCC) is essential for multiple cellular processes. In the heart, calcium influx through LTCC plays an important role in cardiac electrical excitation. Mutations in LTCC genes, including CACNA1C, CACNA1D, CACNB2 and CACNA2D, will induce the dysfunctions of calcium channels, which result in the abnormal excitations of cardiomyocytes, and finally lead to cardiac arrhythmias. Nevertheless, the newly found mutations in LTCC and their functions are continuously being elucidated. This review summarizes recent findings on the mutations of LTCC, which are associated with long QT syndromes, Timothy syndromes, Brugada syndromes, short QT syndromes, and some other cardiac arrhythmias. Indeed, we describe the gain/loss-of-functions of these mutations in LTCC, which can give an explanation for the phenotypes of cardiac arrhythmias. Moreover, we present several challenges in the field at present, and propose some diagnostic or therapeutic approaches to these mutation-associated cardiac diseases in the future.
Zhang et al. (Mon,) conducted a review in Cardiac arrhythmias (long QT, Timothy, Brugada, and short QT syndromes). Mutations in LTCC genes (CACNA1C, CACNA1D, CACNB2, CACNA2D) was evaluated. Mutations in voltage-gated L-type calcium channel genes cause gain- or loss-of-function that explain phenotypes of various cardiac arrhythmias, including long QT and Brugada syndromes.