Effects of congenital stationary night blindness type 2 mutations R508Q and L1364H on Cav1.4 L-type Ca2+ channel function and expression.

At least 48 mutations in the CACNA1F gene encoding retinal Ca(v)1.4 L-type Ca(2+) channels have been linked to X-linked recessive congenital stationary night blindness type 2 (CSNB2). A large number of these are missense mutations encoding full-length alpha1-subunits that can potentially form functional channels.

Congenital stationary night blindness type 2 mutations S229P, G369D, L1068P, and W1440X alter channel gating or functional expression of Ca(v)1.4 L-type Ca2+ channels.

Mutations in the CACNA1F gene (voltage-dependent L-type calcium channel alpha1F subunit) encoding retinal Ca(v)1.4 L-type Ca2+ channels cause X-linked recessive congenital stationary night blindness type 2 (CSNB2). Many of them are predicted to yield nonfunctional channels.

L-type Ca2+ channels in Ca2+ channelopathies.

Voltage-gated L-type Ca2+ channels (LTCCs) mediate depolarization-induced Ca2+ entry in electrically excitable cells, including muscle cells, neurons, and endocrine and sensory cells. In this review we summarize the role of LTCCs for human diseases caused by genetic Ca2+ channel defects (channelopathies). LTCC dysfunction can result from structural aberrations within pore-forming alpha1 subunits causing incomplete congenital stationary night blindness, malignant hyperthermia sensitivity or hypokalemic periodic paralysis.

Effect of manidipine on gene expression and protein level of oxidative stress-related proteins: p22phox and HO-1: relevance for antihypertensive and anti-remodeling effects.

Oxidative stress (OxSt) is a major damaging factor in arterial hypertension and its long-term complications. This is why considerable attention is paid to the possible effects of antihypertensive drugs on OxSt. Manidipine is a dihydropiridine calcium channel blocker with reported nephroprotective activities, but no information is available on its effect on OxSt and related mechanisms.

Effect of aldosterone and glycyrrhetinic acid on the protein expression of PAI-1 and p22(phox) in human mononuclear leukocytes.

Aldosterone excess can produce heart and kidney fibrosis, which seem to be related to a direct effect of aldosterone at the level of specific receptors. We report a direct, mineralocorticoid-mediated effect on the protein expression of two markers of oxidative stress after incubation of mononuclear leukocytes with 1 x 10(-8) M aldosterone (p22(phox)/beta-actin = 1.38 +/- 0.