title: Role of the Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger on the development of diabetes mellitus and its chronic complications.
abstract: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a serious metabolic disorder with micro- and macrovascular complications that results in significant morbidity and mortality. It is well established that cytosolic Ca(2+) play an important role in controlling insulin secretion in pancreatic β-cells. The Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger (NCX), an ion transport protein, is expressed in the plasma membrane of virtually all animal cells. NCX is a reversible carrier that can mediate the transport of Ca(2+) across the plasma membrane in both directions. Therefore, great efforts have been made to identify NCX associated with DM. NCX is expressed in several tissues, and acts in the protection against intracellular calcium overload; in the regulation of insulin secretion by beta cells, and in improving vascular endothelium-dependent relaxation. All these mechanisms are associated with DM pathogenesis and its chronic complications. Therefore, NCX is a candidate protein for the development of these disorders. Only a few studies investigated NCX in relation to chronic complications of diabetes, with inconclusive results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150001, China.
authors.forename: Ke-Zhen
authors.initials: KZ
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jiang-Wen
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Yan-Bo
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yan-Ming
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Su
mesh_terms: D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000378:metabolism*; D058065:Diabetic Cardiomyopathies / Q000378:metabolism*; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D019831:Sodium-Calcium Exchanger / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D019831:Sodium-Calcium Exchanger; D002118:Calcium