Calcium Signaling in Airway Epithelial Cells: Current Understanding and Implications for Inflammatory Airway Disease

Amit Jairaman, Murali Prakriya*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Airway epithelial cells play an indispensable role in protecting the lung from inhaled pathogens and allergens by releasing an array of mediators that orchestrate inflammatory and immune responses when confronted with harmful environmental triggers. While this process is undoubtedly important for containing the effects of various harmful insults, dysregulation of the inflammatory response can cause lung diseases including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and pulmonary fibrosis. A key cellular mechanism that underlies the inflammatory responses in the airway is calcium signaling, which stimulates the production and release of chemokines, cytokines, and prostaglandins from the airway epithelium. In this review, we discuss the role of major Ca2+signaling pathways found in airway epithelial cells and their contributions to airway inflammation, mucociliary clearance, and surfactant production. We highlight the importance of store-operated Ca2+entry as a major signaling hub in these processes and discuss therapeutic implications of targeting Ca2+signaling for airway inflammation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)772-783
Number of pages12
JournalArteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology
Volume44
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 1 2024

Funding

The author’s work was supported by National Institutes of Health grants R01HL149385 and R35NS132349 to M.P.

Keywords

  • asthma
  • calcium signaling
  • chemokine
  • cytokine
  • epithelium
  • inflammation
  • ion channels

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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