Ca2+ signaling in pancreatic acinar cells: physiology and pathophysiology
The pancreatic acinar cell is a classical model for studies of secretion and signal transduction mechanisms. Because of the extensive endoplasmic reticulum and the large granular compartment, it has been possible - by direct measurements - to obtain considerable insights into intracellular Ca2+ handling under both normal and pathological conditions. Recent studies have also revealed important characteristics of stimulus-secretion coupling mechanisms in isolated human pancreatic acinar cells. The acinar cells are potentially dangerous because of the high intra-granular concentration of proteases, which become inappropriately activated in the human disease acute pancreatitis. This disease is due to toxic Ca2+ signals generated by excessive liberation of Ca2+ from both the endoplasmic reticulum and the secretory granules.
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| Format: | Digital revista |
| Language: | English |
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Associação Brasileira de Divulgação Científica
2009
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| Online Access: | http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0100-879X2009000100003 |
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