Abstract:
Recently studies found that TRPC3 and TRPC6 played an important role in cardiovascular disease.
Hypertension, as a cardiovascular disease causing the highest morbidity and mortality, has close
relationship with the expressions of TRPC3 and TRPC6. Unbalanced calcium homeostasis is the
major factor of pathogenesis of hypertension. Changes of intracellular calcium concentration depend
on calcium transmembrane transportation, intracellular calcium store releasing and other
processes. TRPC3, TRPC6 molecules, as non-selective cation channels on the cell membranes, are
involved in the processes. This review illustrated the functions of TRPC3 and TRPC6 on myocardial
cells, smooth muscle cells and inflammatory cells in the development of hypertension, and the
effects of drugs like sildenafil to provide a new way for the prevention and treatment of hypertension.
