This book focuses on disorders of calcium channels and the use of drugs to treat calcium-related disorders and their associated toxicities. In particular, it discusses the role of various natural products and their attributes in preventing problems associated with calcium imbalances. In addition, the book analyzes trends in the processing of natural products using nanotechnology and their implications in calcium-related disorders. Lastly, it explores some of the most promising aspects of research into calcium signalling disorders – which is especially important, given the wide variety of cellular processes that are controlled by calcium ions – and provides a trustworthy source of up-to-date information in this area of research.

The usage of calcium ions to drive intracellular processes and for communication is called calcium signaling. It is generally a step in signal transduction. Calcium can also function as second messengers wherein they fulfill tasks such as neuronal transmission, cellular motility, muscle contraction and cell growth. Within neurons, concomitant rise in mitochondrial and cytosolic calcium ions are integral to the synchronization of mitochondrial energy metabolism and neuronal electrical activity. However, high level of cytoplasmic calcium ion can cause the cell apostosis. The influx of calcium ions also triggers the development of the oocyte in numerous species. In the case of fish and echinoderms, this influx takes place as a single rise in concentration, while in mammals, the concentration oscillates. This book provides comprehensive insights into the research on calcium signaling. It presents researches and studies performed by experts across the globe. This book will serve as a reference to a broad spectrum of readers.

Authors highlight several promising discoveries in the field of calcium signaling that provide new information about both genetic and acquired pathologies. Their discussions will give you new insights into the underlying causes of congenital and acquired diseases and point the way to new, even more promising research and therapies.

This book is a printed edition of the Special Issue "Calcium Signaling in Human Health and Diseases" that was published in IJMS

The book combines general concepts and methods to investigate calcium signalling in cells ranging from molecular biology approaches to manipulation of calcium in living cells. The focus within these methods in on the broad range of fluorescence imaging technology, in particular on optical sectioning techniques and fast image acquisition. In addition to these general guidelines there are application examples in a context beyond calcium signalling in two major fields: investigations of isolated cardiac myocytes and red blood cell related research. While the cellular cardiology section provides snapshots of certain calcium signalling aspects, the red blood cell part presents an overview from the functional identification of calcium-channels to a concept of physiological and pathophysiological relevance.

Intracellular Ca2+ signaling is witnessing an amazing resurgence of interest. In addition to traditional Ca2+ aficionados, an astonishing (and growing) number of colleagues from all around the world have started to devote a large part of their research to gain insights into the role of Ca2+ signaling in health and disease. This is why calcium ions interact with virtually every signal transduction pathway not only in mammalian cells, but also across the phylogenetic tree, thereby, driving or modulating most, if not all, cellular functions, ranging from fertilization to apoptosis, passing through learning and memory, cardiac contractility, and immune response. This book gathers a collection of original research articles and reviews by a number of renowned experts who aim to present the state of the art of many pathophysiological aspects of intracellular Ca2+ signaling, such as embryonic development, immune response, extracellular Ca2+ signaling, neoplastic transformation, muscle hypertrophy, pulmonary inflammation, and P2X receptor gating.

Calcium ions represent Mother Nature’s ‘ion-of-choice’ for regulating fundamental physiological functions, as they initiate a new life at the time of fertilization and guide subsequent developmental and physiological functions of the human body. Calcium channels, which act as gated pathways for the movement of calcium ions across the membranes, play a central part in the initiation of calcium signals, and defects in calcium channel function have been found to result in a plethora of human diseases, referred to as the calcium channelopathies. Pathologies of Calcium Channels brings together leading international experts to discuss our current understanding of human diseases associated with the various calcium channels, from their molecular basis to potential future therapeutic targeting of calcium channels.

Calcium ions play a critical role in signaling in a wide variety of cells and tissues, including muscle, immune cells, neurons, the liver, and oocytes. This new volume explores the channels and pumps that transport calcium, calcium buffers and sensors, and how these produce distinct spatiotemporal signals in different circumstances. It covers calcium signaling during development and normal physiology, as well as perturbed signaling in diseases such as diabetes, neurodegeneration, and atherosclerosis. Topics covered include: - The role of SERCA/SPCA/and PMCA - Mitochondria in calcium signaling - Organellar Calcium Handling in the Cellular Reticular Network - Calcium Sensors in Neuronal Function and Dysfunction - The Calcium Signaling Toolkit in Cancer: Remodeling and Targeting

The endothelium, a monolayer of endothelial cells, constitutes the inner cellular lining of the blood vessels (arteries, veins and capillaries) and the lymphatic system, and therefore is in direct contact with the blood/lymph and the circulating cells. The endothelium is a major player in the control of blood fluidity, platelet aggregation and vascular tone, a major actor in the regulation of immunology, inflammation and angiogenesis, and an important metabolizing and an endocrine organ. Endothelial cells controls vascular tone, and thereby blood flow, by synthesizing and releasing relaxing and contracting factors such as nitric oxide, metabolites of arachidonic acid via the cyclooxygenases, lipoxygenases and cytochrome P450 pathways, various peptides (endothelin, urotensin, CNP, adrenomedullin, etc.), adenosine, purines, reactive oxygen species and so on. Additionally, endothelial ectoenzymes are required steps in the generation of vasoactive hormones such as angiotensin II. An endothelial dysfunction linked to an imbalance in the synthesis and/or the release of these various endothelial factors may explain the initiation of cardiovascular pathologies (from hypertension to atherosclerosis) or their development and perpetuation. Table of Contents: Introduction / Multiple Functions of the Endothelial Cells / Calcium Signaling in Vascular Cells and Cell-to-Cell Communications / Endothelium-Dependent Regulation of Vascular Tone / Conclusion / References

Calcium Entry Channels in Non-Excitable Cells focuses on methods of investigating the structure and function of non-voltage gated calcium channels. Each chapter presents important discoveries in calcium entry pathways, specifically dealing with the molecular identification of store-operated calcium channels which were reviewed by earlier volumes in the Methods in Signal Transduction series. Crystallographic and pharmacological approaches to the study of calcium channels of epithelial cells are also discussed. Calcium ion is a messenger in most cell types. Whereas voltage gated calcium channels have been studied extensively, the non-voltage gated calcium entry channel genes have only been identified relatively recently. The book will fill this important niche.