Calcium Channels: Noteworthy Regulators and Therapeutic Targets in Dermatological Diseases
Min Wang, Yaoxiang Sun, Linli Li, Peipei Wu, Ocansey DKW, Hui Shi
Abstract
Dysfunctional skin barrier and impaired skin homeostasis may lead to or aggravate a series of dermatologic diseases. A large variety of biological events and bioactive molecules are involved in the process of skin wound healing and functional recovery. Calcium ions (Ca 2+ ) released from intracellular stores as well as influx through plasma membrane are essential to skin function. Growing evidence suggests that calcium influx is mainly regulated by calcium-sensing receptors and channels, including voltage-gated, transient potential receptor, store-operated, and receptor-operated calcium channels, which not only maintain cellular Ca 2+ homeostasis, but also participate in cell proliferation and skin cell homeostasis through Ca 2+ -sensitive proteins such as calmodulin (CaM). Furthermore, distinct types of Ca 2+ channels not merely work separately, they may work concertedly to regulate cell function. In this review, we discussed different calcium-sensing receptors and channels, including voltage-gated, transient receptor potential, store-operated, and receptor-operated calcium channels, particularly focusing on their regulatory functions and inherent interactions as well as calcium channels-related reagents and drugs, which is expected to bridge basic research and clinical applications in dermatologic diseases.