Yes / Ion channels represent a large and growing family of target proteins regulated by gasotransmitters such as nitric oxide, carbon monoxide and, as described more recently, hydrogen sulfide. Indeed, many of the biological actions of these gases can be accounted for by their ability to modulate ion channel activity. Here, we report recent evidence that H2S is a modulator of low voltage-activated T-type Ca2+ channels, and discriminates between the different subtypes of T-type Ca2+ channel in that it selectively modulates Cav3.2, whilst Cav3.1 and Cav3.3 are unaffected. At high concentrations, H2S augments Cav3.2 currents, an observation which has led to the suggestion that H2S exerts its pro-nociceptive effects via this channel, since Cav3.2 plays a central role in sensory nerve excitability. However, at more physiological concentrations, H2S is seen to inhibit Cav3.2. This inhibitory action requires the presence of the redox-sensitive, extracellular region of the channel which is responsible for tonic metal ion binding and which particularly distinguishes this channel isoform from Cav3.1 and 3.3. Further studies indicate that H2S may act in a novel manner to alter channel activity by potentiating the zinc sensitivity/affinity of this binding site. This review discusses the different reports of H2S modulation of T-type Ca2+ channels, and how such varying effects may impact on nociception given the role of this channel in sensory activity. This subject remains controversial, and future studies are required before the impact of T-type Ca2+ channel modulation by H2S might be exploited as a novel approach to pain management. / This work was supported by grants from the British Heart Foundation, the Medical Research Council, and the Hebei Medical University

No / T-type Ca2+ channels are a distinct family of low voltage-activated Ca2+ channels which serve many roles in different tissues. Several studies have implicated them, for example, in the adaptive responses to chronic hypoxia in the cardiovascular and endocrine systems. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) was more recently discovered as an important signalling molecule involved in many functions, including O2 sensing. Since ion channels are emerging as an important family of target proteins for modulation by H2S, and both T-type Ca2+ channels and H2S are involved in cellular responses to hypoxia, we have investigated whether recombinant and native T-type Ca2+ channels are a target for modulation by H2S. Using patch-clamp electrophysiology, we demonstrate that the H2S donor, NaHS, selectively inhibits Cav3.2 T-type Ca2+ channels heterologously expressed in HEK293 cells, whilst Cav3.1 and Cav3.3 channels were unaffected. Sensitivity of Cav3.2 channels to H2S required the presence of the redox-sensitive extracellular residue H191, which is also required for tonic binding of Zn2+ to this channel. Chelation of Zn2+ using TPEN prevented channel inhibition by H2S. H2S also selectively inhibited native T-type channels (primarily Cav3.2) in sensory dorsal root ganglion neurons. Our data demonstrate a novel target for H2S regulation, the T-type Ca2+ channel Cav3.2. Results have important implications for the proposed pro-nociceptive effects of this gasotransmitter. Implications for the control of cellular responses to hypoxia await further study.

No / T-type Ca2+ channels regulate proliferation in a number of tissue types, including vascular smooth muscle and various cancers. In such tissues, up-regulation of the inducible enzyme heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is often observed, and hypoxia is a key factor in its induction. HO-1 degrades heme to generate carbon monoxide (CO) along with Fe2+ and biliverdin. Since CO is increasingly recognized as a regulator of ion channels (Peers et al. 2015), we have explored the possibility that it may regulate proliferation via modulation of T-type Ca2+ channels. Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings revealed that CO (applied as the dissolved gas or via CORM donors) inhibited all 3 isoforms of T-type Ca2+ channels (Cav3.1-3.3) when expressed in HEK293 cells with similar IC50 values, and induction of HO-1 expression also suppressed T-type currents (Boycott et al. 2013). CO/HO-1 induction also suppressed the elevated basal [Ca2+ ]i in cells expressing these channels and reduced their proliferative rate to levels seen in non-transfected control cells (Duckles et al. 2015). Proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (both A7r5 and human saphenous vein cells) was also suppressed either by T-type Ca2+ channel inhibitors (mibefradil and NNC 55-0396), HO-1 induction or application of CO. Effects of these blockers and CO were non additive. Although L-type Ca2+ channels were also sensitive to CO (Scragg et al. 2008), they did not influence proliferation. Our data suggest that HO-1 acts to control proliferation via CO modulation of T-type Ca2+ channels.