Calcium signalling in endothelial cells

Abstract

Vascular endothelial cells are ubiquitous for their presence in each and every vessel and unique for their multifunctional nature. A large number of endothelial functions depend to various extents on changes in intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration. Reviewed are endothelial Ca²⁺ stores, Ca²⁺ channels, and in-out-in Ca²⁺ signalling events, from ligand-binding on the plasma membrane into depletion of intracellular Ca²⁺ stores and therefrom out to transplasmalemmal Ca²⁺ entry that is of prime importance for many endothelial functions. Special emphasis is placed on mechanisms regulating store-operated Ca²⁺ entry including a Ca²⁺ influx factor, the vesicle secretion-like model, the conformational coupling model, the membrane potential, cytochrome P450, protein tyrosine kinase, myosin light chain kinase and nitric oxide.

Endothelial factors, Calcium (cellular), Ca-channel, Signal transduction, Protein kinases