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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2018 Dec 28.
Published in final edited form as: AAPS J. 2016 Dec 27;19(2):409–420. doi: 10.1208/s12248-016-0023-y

Table 1.

Types and function of cardiovascular ion channels

Ion Channel Relevant Types Physiological Function Associated Cardiovascular Diseases References
Ca2+ channels

  • Long-lasting (L-type)

  • Transient (T-type)

  • L-type: excite and contract muscle cells

  • T-type: cardiac pacemaking function and regulate arterial resistance

 arrhythmias, Brugada syndrome, hypertension (25, 26)
K+ channels

  • Calcium-activated (BKCa)

  • Voltage-gated (KV)

  • ATP-dependent (KATP)

  • Inwardly rectifying (KIR)

  • Mediate membrane and resting potential

  • Regulate cardiac action potential

 atrial fibrillation, Brugada syndrome, hypertension, long and short QT syndrome (26, 27)
Na+ channels

  • Voltage-gated (NaV)

  • Initial fast upstroke of the cardiac action potential

  • Contractile response of vascular smooth muscle cells

 atrial standstill, Brugada syndrome, cardiac conduction disorders, dilated cardiomyopathy, erthromelalgia, long QT syndrome, nonprogressive familial heart block 26, 28, 29)
Na+/K+ ATPases

  • α and β isoforms

  • Resting potential, cell volume and [Ca2+]

 atrial fibrillation, heart failure (30)