title: The role of magnesium in lung diseases: asthma, allergy and pulmonary hypertension.
abstract: Magnesium is the fourth most abundant metal found in the body. It plays a crucial role in numerous biological processes. It is a natural calcium blocker. It can block or compete with Ca2+ at voltage-dependent, receptor- or leak-operated channels and result in translocation of intracellular Ca2+. Mg2+ inhibits Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Intracellular Mg2+ is thought to modulate smooth muscle contractions and the rate of relaxation. Mg2+ is a cofactor of numerous enzymes and is coupled with cellular use of phosphate as an activator and energy source. cAMP-dependent protein and adenylate cyclase are among many enzymes that require Mg2+ for their function. Mg2+ has been used successfully in treating asthma. There is experimental evidence that Mg2+ is required for various immune responses, and in rats, Mg2+ treatment has been shown to attenuate chemically induced pulmonary hypertension. It is not clear if Mg2+ deficiency plays a role in development of some of these diseases, but Mg2+ salts appear to have therapeutic value and certainly it has a role as an adjunct to traditional therapy in various lung diseases.
authors.affiliation: New York Medical College, Valhalla.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mathew
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Altura
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008274:Magnesium / Q000502:physiology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D008274:Magnesium