Calcium buffering

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Calcium buffering describes the processes which help stabilise the concentration of free calcium ions within cells, in a similar manner to how pH buffers maintain a stable concentration of hydrogen ions. [1] The majority of calcium ions within the cell are bound to intracellular proteins, leaving a minority freely dissociated. [2] When calcium is added to or removed from the cytoplasm by transport across the cell membrane or sarcoplasmic reticulum, calcium buffers minimise the effect on changes in cytoplasmic free calcium concentration by binding calcium to or releasing calcium from intracellular proteins. As a result, 99% of the calcium added to the cytosol of a cardiomyocyte during each cardiac cycle becomes bound to calcium buffers, creating a relatively small change in free calcium. [2]

Contents

The regulation of free calcium is of particular importance in excitable cells like cardiomyocytes [3] and neurons. [4] Within these cells, many intracellular proteins can act as calcium buffers. In cardiac muscle cells, the most important buffers within the cytoplasm include troponin C, SERCA, calmodulin, and myosin, while the most important within calcium buffer within the sarcoplasmic reticulum is calsequestrin. [2] [5] , The effects of calcium buffers depends on their affinity for calcium, as well as the speed with which they bind and release it. [6]

Clinical significance

Alterations in calcium buffering within the cytosol have been implicated in the tendency to arrhythmias (abnormal cardiac rhythms) in some genetic mutations known to cause hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. [7] Genetic mutations affecting calsequestrin are responsible for an autosomal recessive form of catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, an inherited cardiac condition that can lead to sudden death. [8] Calcium buffering within atrial myocytes is affected by ageing in large animal models, elevating sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium content, which could potentially contribute towards a tendency to atrial fibrillation. [9]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sarcoplasmic reticulum</span> Menbrane-bound structure in muscle cells for storing calcium

The sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) is a membrane-bound structure found within muscle cells that is similar to the smooth endoplasmic reticulum in other cells. The main function of the SR is to store calcium ions (Ca2+). Calcium ion levels are kept relatively constant, with the concentration of calcium ions within a cell being 10,000 times smaller than the concentration of calcium ions outside the cell. This means that small increases in calcium ions within the cell are easily detected and can bring about important cellular changes (the calcium is said to be a second messenger). Calcium is used to make calcium carbonate (found in chalk) and calcium phosphate, two compounds that the body uses to make teeth and bones. This means that too much calcium within the cells can lead to hardening (calcification) of certain intracellular structures, including the mitochondria, leading to cell death. Therefore, it is vital that calcium ion levels are controlled tightly, and can be released into the cell when necessary and then removed from the cell.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cardiac muscle</span> Muscular tissue of heart in vertebrates

Cardiac muscle is one of three types of vertebrate muscle tissues, with the other two being skeletal muscle and smooth muscle. It is an involuntary, striated muscle that constitutes the main tissue of the wall of the heart. The cardiac muscle (myocardium) forms a thick middle layer between the outer layer of the heart wall and the inner layer, with blood supplied via the coronary circulation. It is composed of individual cardiac muscle cells joined by intercalated discs, and encased by collagen fibers and other substances that form the extracellular matrix.

SERCA, or sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase, or SR Ca2+-ATPase, is a calcium ATPase-type P-ATPase. Its major function is to transport calcium from the cytosol into the sarcoplasmic reticulum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Muscle contraction</span> Activation of tension-generating sites in muscle

Muscle contraction is the activation of tension-generating sites within muscle cells. In physiology, muscle contraction does not necessarily mean muscle shortening because muscle tension can be produced without changes in muscle length, such as when holding something heavy in the same position. The termination of muscle contraction is followed by muscle relaxation, which is a return of the muscle fibers to their low tension-generating state.

Ryanodine receptors form a class of intracellular calcium channels in various forms of excitable animal tissue like muscles and neurons. There are three major isoforms of the ryanodine receptor, which are found in different tissues and participate in different signaling pathways involving calcium release from intracellular organelles. The RYR2 ryanodine receptor isoform is the major cellular mediator of calcium-induced calcium release (CICR) in animal cells.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phospholamban</span> Mammalian protein found in Homo sapiens

Phospholamban, also known as PLN or PLB, is a micropeptide protein that in humans is encoded by the PLN gene. Phospholamban is a 52-amino acid integral membrane protein that regulates the calcium (Ca2+) pump in cardiac muscle cells.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">T-tubule</span> Extensions in cell membrane of muscle fibres

T-tubules are extensions of the cell membrane that penetrate into the center of skeletal and cardiac muscle cells. With membranes that contain large concentrations of ion channels, transporters, and pumps, T-tubules permit rapid transmission of the action potential into the cell, and also play an important role in regulating cellular calcium concentration.

Myocardial contractility represents the innate ability of the heart muscle (cardiac muscle or myocardium) to contract. The ability to produce changes in force during contraction result from incremental degrees of binding between different types of tissue, that is, between filaments of myosin (thick) and actin (thin) tissue. The degree of binding depends upon the concentration of calcium ions in the cell. Within an in vivo intact heart, the action/response of the sympathetic nervous system is driven by precisely timed releases of a catecholamine, which is a process that determines the concentration of calcium ions in the cytosol of cardiac muscle cells. The factors causing an increase in contractility work by causing an increase in intracellular calcium ions (Ca++) during contraction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Calsequestrin</span> Calcium-binding protein

Calsequestrin is a calcium-binding protein that acts as a calcium buffer within the sarcoplasmic reticulum. The protein helps hold calcium in the cisterna of the sarcoplasmic reticulum after a muscle contraction, even though the concentration of calcium in the sarcoplasmic reticulum is much higher than in the cytosol. It also helps the sarcoplasmic reticulum store an extraordinarily high amount of calcium ions. Each molecule of calsequestrin can bind 18 to 50 Ca2+ ions. Sequence analysis has suggested that calcium is not bound in distinct pockets via EF-hand motifs, but rather via presentation of a charged protein surface. Two forms of calsequestrin have been identified. The cardiac form Calsequestrin-2 (CASQ2) is present in cardiac and slow skeletal muscle and the fast skeletal form Calsequestrin-1(CASQ1) is found in fast skeletal muscle. The release of calsequestrin-bound calcium (through a calcium release channel) triggers muscle contraction. The active protein is not highly structured, more than 50% of it adopting a random coil conformation. When calcium binds there is a structural change whereby the alpha-helical content of the protein increases from 3 to 11%. Both forms of calsequestrin are phosphorylated by casein kinase 2, but the cardiac form is phosphorylated more rapidly and to a higher degree. Calsequestrin is also secreted in the gut where it deprives bacteria of calcium ions..

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Calcium ATPase</span> Class of enzymes

Ca2+ ATPase is a form of P-ATPase that transfers calcium after a muscle has contracted. The two kinds of calcium ATPase are:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia</span> Medical condition

Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) is an inherited genetic disorder that predisposes those affected to potentially life-threatening abnormal heart rhythms or arrhythmias. The arrhythmias seen in CPVT typically occur during exercise or at times of emotional stress, and classically take the form of bidirectional ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. Those affected may be asymptomatic, but they may also experience blackouts or even sudden cardiac death.

A calcium spark is the microscopic release of calcium (Ca2+) from a store known as the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), located within muscle cells. This release occurs through an ion channel within the membrane of the SR, known as a ryanodine receptor (RyR), which opens upon activation. This process is important as it helps to maintain Ca2+ concentration within the cell. It also initiates muscle contraction in skeletal and cardiac muscles and muscle relaxation in smooth muscles. Ca2+ sparks are important in physiology as they show how Ca2+ can be used at a subcellular level, to signal both local changes, known as local control, as well as whole cell changes.

Within the muscle tissue of animals and humans, contraction and relaxation of the muscle cells (myocytes) is a highly regulated and rhythmic process. In cardiomyocytes, or cardiac muscle cells, muscular contraction takes place due to movement at a structure referred to as the diad, sometimes spelled "dyad." The dyad is the connection of transverse- tubules (t-tubules) and the junctional sarcoplasmic reticulum (jSR). Like skeletal muscle contractions, Calcium (Ca2+) ions are required for polarization and depolarization through a voltage-gated calcium channel. The rapid influx of calcium into the cell signals for the cells to contract. When the calcium intake travels through an entire muscle, it will trigger a united muscular contraction. This process is known as excitation-contraction coupling. This contraction pushes blood inside the heart and from the heart to other regions of the body.

Lusitropy or Lucitropy is the rate of myocardial relaxation. The increase in cytosolic calcium of cardiomyocytes via increased uptake leads to increased myocardial contractility, but the myocardial relaxation, or lusitropy, decreases. This should not be confused, however, with catecholamine-induced calcium uptake into the sarcoplasmic reticulum, which increases lusitropy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ryanodine receptor 2</span> Transport protein and coding gene in humans

Ryanodine receptor 2 (RYR2) is one of a class of ryanodine receptors and a protein found primarily in cardiac muscle. In humans, it is encoded by the RYR2 gene. In the process of cardiac calcium-induced calcium release, RYR2 is the major mediator for sarcoplasmic release of stored calcium ions.

JTV-519 (K201) is a 1,4-benzothiazepine derivative that interacts with many cellular targets. It has many structural similarities to diltiazem, a Ca2+ channel blocker used for treatment of hypertension, angina pectoris and some types of arrhythmias. JTV-519 acts in the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) of cardiac myocytes by binding to and stabilizing the ryanodine receptor (RyR2) in its closed state. It can be used in the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias, heart failure, catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) and store overload-induced Ca2+ release (SOICR). Currently, this drug has only been tested on animals and its side effects are still unknown. As research continues, some studies have also found a dose-dependent response; where there is no improvement seen in failing hearts at 0.3 μM and a decline in response at 1 μM.

CXL 1020 is an experimental drug that is being investigated as a treatment for acute decompensated heart failure. CXL 1020 functions as a nitroxyl donor; nitroxyl is the reduced, protonated version of nitric oxide. Nitroxyl is capable of enhancing left ventricular contractility without increasing heart rate by modifying normal Ca2+ cycling through the sarcoplasmic reticulum as well as increasing the sensitivity of cardiac myofilaments to Ca2+.

Mydicar is a genetically targeted enzyme replacement therapy being studied for use in patients with severe heart failure. It is designed to increase the level of SERCA2a, a sarcoplasmic endoplasmic reticulum calcium (Ca2+) ATPase found in the membrane of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). The SERCA2a gene is delivered to the heart via an adeno-associated viral vector. Using the α-myosin heavy chain gene promoter in the cardiac muscle cells, also called cardiomyocytes, Mydicar is able to direct the gene expression only to the heart muscle. Mydicar is being tested in a phase 2 study, in which has been compared to a placebo in 39 advanced heart failure patients. Thus far, patients treated with Mydicar have shown a 52% reduction in the risk of worsening heart failure compared to patients treated with the placebo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Istaroxime</span> Chemical compound

Istaroxime is an investigational drug under development for treatment of acute decompensated heart failure

ParvE101Q is an experimental modification of parvalbumin, designed to delay calcium sequestration in heart muscles to enhance contraction. The protein parvalbumin has EF hand motifs used for calcium binding. EF hands are structural helix-loop-helix protein subunits that have a high affinity for calcium ions, and a moderate affinity for magnesium ions. In muscle, the binding of Ca2+ by parvalbumin efficiently sequesters it following contraction. This increases the speed of muscle relaxation, allowing the muscle to contract again sooner. Although parvalbumin is classified as a delayed calcium buffer, it quickly sequesters Ca2+, usually before the muscle is done fully contracting. Large amounts of parvalbumin allow rapid contractions of muscles at a high contractile speed with the trade-off of having relatively lower contraction force. This decreased force of contraction is due to the rapid sequestration of Ca2+, preventing prolonged contraction which is required for greater force.

References

  1. ↑ Gilabert JA (2012). "Cytoplasmic calcium buffering". Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology. 740: 483–98. doi:10.1007/978-94-007-2888-2_20. ISBN   978-94-007-2887-5. PMID   22453955.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  2. 1 2 3 M., Bers, D. (2001). Excitation-contraction coupling and cardiac contractile force (2nd ed.). Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers. ISBN   9780792371588. OCLC   47659382.
  3. ↑ Smith GL, Eisner DA (May 2019). "Calcium Buffering in the Heart in Health and Disease". Circulation. 139 (20): 2358–2371. doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.118.039329. PMC   6520234 . PMID   31082292.
  4. ↑ Schwaller B (November 2010). "Cytosolic Ca2+ buffers". Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology. 2 (11): a004051. doi:10.1101/cshperspect.a004051. PMC   2964180 . PMID   20943758.
  5. ↑ Briston SJ, Dibb KM, Solaro RJ, Eisner DA, Trafford AW (November 2014). "Balanced changes in Ca buffering by SERCA and troponin contribute to Ca handling during β-adrenergic stimulation in cardiac myocytes". Cardiovascular Research. 104 (2): 347–54. doi:10.1093/cvr/cvu201. PMC   4240166 . PMID   25183792.
  6. ↑ Eisner, David; Neher, Erwin; Taschenberger, Holger; Smith, Godfrey (2023-06-16). "Physiology of intracellular calcium buffering". Physiological Reviews. doi:10.1152/physrev.00042.2022. ISSN   1522-1210. PMID   37326298. S2CID   259174431.
  7. ↑ Schober T, Huke S, Venkataraman R, Gryshchenko O, Kryshtal D, Hwang HS, Baudenbacher FJ, Knollmann BC (July 2012). "Myofilament Ca sensitization increases cytosolic Ca binding affinity, alters intracellular Ca homeostasis, and causes pause-dependent Ca-triggered arrhythmia". Circulation Research. 111 (2): 170–9. doi:10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.112.270041. PMC   3393041 . PMID   22647877.
  8. ↑ Lieve KV, van der Werf C, Wilde AA (May 2016). "Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia". Circulation Journal. 80 (6): 1285–91. doi: 10.1253/circj.CJ-16-0326 . PMID   27180891.
  9. ↑ Clarke JD, Caldwell JL, Pearman CM, Eisner DA, Trafford AW, Dibb KM (October 2017). "2+ handling in old sheep atrial myocytes". The Journal of Physiology. 595 (19): 6263–6279. doi:10.1113/JP274053. PMC   5621500 . PMID   28752958.
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