Editorial: The Role of Calcium Channels in Human Health and Disease

• Authors: Peng Zhang, Institute of ENT; Chang-Bo Zheng, Kunming Medical University; Zhen Chen, Emory University; Xiao-Yu Liu, Southern University of Science & Technology
• Journal Title: Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences
• Volume: Volume 9
• Publisher: Frontiers Media SA | 2022-01-21, Pages 834108-834108
• Type of Work: Article | Final Publisher PDF
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.3389/fmolb.2022.834108
• Subjects: Biology, Molecular; Chemistry, Biochemistry; Health Sciences, Public Health
• Keywords: Science & Technology; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; Biochemistry & Molecular Biology; calcium channels; calcium signal; human health; human disease; therapeutic target

Abstract

Calcium is one of the most common signaling molecules in cells and is involved in regulating almost all biological functions. Calcium can regulate molecular events such as gene expression and regulation, protein phosphorylation and modification; cellular activities including energy metabolism, cell division, proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis; tissue level functions such as embryo formation and development, heart and muscle contraction, neuronal communication, learning and memory (Berridge et al., 2000; Clapham, 2007). Therefore, it is not surprising that imbalance in intracellular calcium homeostasis can lead to severe pathological disorders including cardiovascular disease and tumor (Liu et al., 2019). Calcium channels mediate the movement of calcium ions into the cytoplasm and organelles, and are important regulators of calcium homeostasis. Thus, understanding the regulatory mechanism of calcium channels is an important step towards revealing the rules that govern calcium homeostasis and life processes. This special Research Topic highlights eight studies on novel roles of calcium channels in pathophysiological processes.