TY - JOUR T1 - CCR2 Receptor Ligands Inhibit Ca<sub>v</sub>3.2 T-Type Calcium Channels JF - Molecular Pharmacology JO - Mol Pharmacol SP - 211 LP - 217 DO - 10.1124/mol.109.059022 VL - 77 IS - 2 AU - Haitao You AU - Christophe Altier AU - Gerald W Zamponi Y1 - 2010/02/01 UR - http://molpharm.aspetjournals.org/content/77/2/211.abstract N2 - Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) is a cytokine known to be involved in the recruitment of monocytes to sites of injury. MCP-1 activates the chemokine (C-C motif) receptor 2 (CCR2), a seven-transmembrane helix G protein-coupled receptor that has been implicated in inflammatory pain responses. Here we show that MCP-1 mediates activation of the CCR2 receptor and inhibits coexpressed N-type calcium channels in tsA-201 cells via a voltage-dependent pathway. Moreover, MCP-1 inhibits Cav3.2 calcium channels, but not other members of the Cav3 calcium channel family, with nanomolar affinity. Unlike in N-type channels, this modulation does not require CCR2 receptor activation and seems to involve a direct action of the ligand on the channel. Whole-cell T-type calcium currents in acutely dissociated dorsal root ganglia neurons are effectively inhibited by MCP-1, consistent with the notion that these cells express Cav3.2. The effects of MCP-1 were eliminated by heat denaturation. Furthermore, they were sensitive to the application of the divalent metal ion chelator diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, suggesting the possibility that metal ions may act as a cofactor. Finally, small organic CCR2 receptor antagonists inhibit Cav3.2 and other members of the T-type channel family with micromolar affinity. Our findings provide novel avenues for the design of small organic inhibitors of T-type calcium channels for the treatment of pain and other T-type channel linked disorders. ER -