title: Orai channel-mediated Ca2+ signals in vascular and airway smooth muscle.
abstract: Orai (Orai1, Orai2, and Orai3) proteins form a family of highly Ca(2+)-selective plasma membrane channels that are regulated by stromal-interacting molecules (STIM1 and STIM2); STIM proteins are Ca(2+) sensors located in the membrane of the endoplasmic reticulum. STIM and Orai proteins are expressed in vascular and airway smooth muscle and constitute the molecular components of the ubiquitous store-operated Ca(2+) entry pathway that mediate the Ca(2+) release-activated Ca(2+) current. STIM/Orai proteins also encode store-independent Ca(2+) entry pathways in smooth muscle. Altered expression and function of STIM/Orai proteins have been linked to vascular and airway pathologies, including restenosis, hypertension, and atopic asthma. In this review we discuss our current understanding of Orai proteins and the store-dependent and -independent signaling pathways mediated by these proteins in vascular and airway smooth muscle. We also discuss the current studies linking altered expression and function of Orai proteins with smooth muscle-related pathologies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Amy M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Spinelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania mtrebak@hmc.psu.edu.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Trebak
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000378:metabolism*; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000502:physiology*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism*; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015220:Calcium Channels; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D002118:Calcium
keywords: Orai; calcium signaling; smooth muscle remodeling; store-operated calcium entry; stromal-interacting molecule; vascular and airway disease