T-type voltage-gated channels, Na/Ca-exchanger, and calpain-2 promote photoreceptor cell death in inherited retinal degeneration.

Inherited retinal degenerations (IRDs) are a group of untreatable and commonly blinding diseases characterized by progressive photoreceptor loss. IRD pathology has been linked to an excessive activation of cyclic nucleotide-gated channels (CNGC) leading to Na- and Ca-influx, subsequent activation of voltage-gated Ca-channels (VGCC), and further Ca influx. However, a connection between excessive Ca influx and photoreceptor loss has yet to be proven.