title: Calcium, channels, intracellular signaling and autoimmunity.
abstract: Calcium (Ca²⁺) is an important cation able to function as a second messenger in different cells of the immune system, particularly in B and T lymphocytes, macrophages and mastocytes, among others. Recent discoveries related to the entry of Ca²⁺ through the store-operated calcium entry (SOCE) has opened a new investigation area about the cell destiny regulated by Ca²⁺ especially in B and T lymphocytes. SOCE acts through calcium-release-activated calcium (CRAC) channels. The function of CRAC depends of two recently discovered regulators: the Ca²⁺ sensor in the endoplasmic reticulum or stromal interaction molecule (STIM-1) and one subunit of CRAC channels called Orai1. This review focuses on the role of Ca²⁺ signals in B and T lymphocytes functions, the signalling pathways leading to Ca²⁺ influx, and the relationship between Ca²⁺ signals and autoimmune diseases.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Interna, Unidad de Reumatología, Fundación Valle del Lili, Facultad de Medicina Universidad ICESI, Cali, Colombia.
authors.forename: Jorge-Hernán
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Izquierdo
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Interna, Unidad de Reumatología, Fundación Valle del Lili, Facultad de Medicina Universidad ICESI, Cali, Colombia.
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bonilla-Abadía
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Interna, Unidad de Reumatología, Fundación Valle del Lili, Facultad de Medicina Universidad ICESI, Cali, Colombia.
authors.forename: Carlos A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Cañas
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Interna, Unidad de Reumatología, Fundación Valle del Lili, Facultad de Medicina Universidad ICESI, Cali, Colombia. Electronic address: gtobon1@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Gabriel J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Tobón
mesh_terms: D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000502:physiology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D002118:Calcium / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015220:Calcium Channels; D002118:Calcium
keywords: Autoimmune diseases; B lymphocyte; Calcio; Calcium signals; Calcium-release-activated calcium; Enfermedades autoinmunes; Linfocito B; Linfocito T; Orai1; Store-operated calcium entry; Stromal interaction molecule; T lymphocyte