title: Role of calcium channels in cellular antituberculosis effects: Potential of voltage-gated calcium-channel blockers in tuberculosis therapy.
abstract: The immunity of human immune cells and their ability to inhibit Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) are key factors in the anti-MTB effect. However, MTB modulates the levels and activity of key intracellular second messengers, such as calcium, to evade protective immune responses. Recent studies suggest that inhibiting L-type calcium channel in immune cells using either antibodies or small interfering RNA increases calcium influx, upregulates the expression of proinflammation genes, and reduces MTB burden. First, we will review the key factors in calcium-signaling pathway that may affect the immunity of immune cells to MTB infection. Second, we will focus on the role of calcium channels in regulating cellular immunity to MTB. Finally, we will discuss the possibility of using calcium-channel blockers as anti-MTB chemotherapy drugs to enhance chemotherapy effects, shorten treatment period, and overcome drug resistance.
authors.affiliation: Army Tuberculosis Prevention and Control Key Laboratory, Institute of Tuberculosis Research, The 309th Hospital of Chinese PLA, Beijing 100091, China; BioChain (Beijing) Science and Technology, Inc., Beijing 100176, China.
authors.forename: Lele
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Army Tuberculosis Prevention and Control Key Laboratory, Institute of Tuberculosis Research, The 309th Hospital of Chinese PLA, Beijing 100091, China.
authors.forename: Ruina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.affiliation: Army Tuberculosis Prevention and Control Key Laboratory, Institute of Tuberculosis Research, The 309th Hospital of Chinese PLA, Beijing 100091, China.
authors.forename: Yourong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Army Tuberculosis Prevention and Control Key Laboratory, Institute of Tuberculosis Research, The 309th Hospital of Chinese PLA, Beijing 100091, China. Electronic address: wu-xueqiong@263.net.
authors.forename: Xueqiong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000378:metabolism*; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000276:immunology*; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D015220:Calcium Channels; D007155:Immunologic Factors
keywords: Mycobacterium tuberculosis; calcium channel; calcium signaling; immunity