title: Divalent cation signaling in immune cells.
abstract: Divalent cations of two alkaline earth metals Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) and the transition metal Zn(2+) play vital roles in the immune system, and several immune disorders are associated with disturbances of their function. Until recently only Ca(2+) was considered to serve as a second messenger. However, signaling roles for Mg(2+) and Zn(2+) have been recently described, leading to a reevaluation of their role as potential second messengers. We review here the roles of these cations as second messengers in light of recent advances in Ca(2+), Mg(2+), and Zn(2+) signaling in the immune system. Developing a better understanding of these signaling cations may lead to new therapeutic strategies for immune disorders.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Development of the Immune System Section, Lymphocyte Molecular Genetics Unit, Laboratory of Immunology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chaigne-Delalande
authors.affiliation: Molecular Development of the Immune System Section, Lymphocyte Molecular Genetics Unit, Laboratory of Immunology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. Electronic address: lenardo@NIH.gov.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Lenardo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002413:Cations, Divalent / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System; D007154:Immune System Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D015290:Second Messenger Systems / Q000276:immunology; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D002413:Cations, Divalent
keywords: calcium; immune disorders; magnesium; signal transduction; zinc