Calcium and reactive oxygen species in acute pancreatitis: friend or foe?

Abstract

SIGNIFICANCE:

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a debilitating and, at times, lethal inflammatory disease, the causes and progression of which are incompletely understood. Disruption of Ca(2+) homeostasis in response to precipitants of AP leads to loss of mitochondrial integrity and cellular necrosis.

RECENT ADVANCES:

While oxidative stress has been implicated as a major player in the pathogenesis of this disease, its precise roles remain to be defined. Recent developments are challenging the perception of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as nonspecific cytotoxic agents, suggesting that ROS promote apoptosis that may play a vital protective role in cellular stress since necrosis is avoided.

CRITICAL ISSUES:

Fresh clinical findings have indicated that antioxidant treatment does not ameliorate AP and may actually worsen the outcome. This review explores the complex links between cellular Ca(2+) signaling and the intracellular redox environment, with particular relevance to AP.

FUTURE DIRECTIONS:

Recent publications have underlined the importance of both Ca(2+) and ROS within the pathogenesis of AP, particularly in the determination of cell fate. Future research should elucidate the subtle interplay between Ca(2+) and redox mechanisms that operate to modulate mitochondrial function, with a view to devising strategies for the preservation of organellar function.

• Authors: David M Booth, Rajarshi Mukherjee, Robert Sutton, David N Criddle
• Journal: Antioxidants & redox signaling (Antioxid Redox Signal) Vol. 15 Issue 10 Pg. 2683-98 (Nov 15 2011) ISSN: 1557-7716 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 21861696 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review)

Chemical References

• Reactive Oxygen Species
• Calcium

Topics

• Acute Disease
• Animals
• Calcium (metabolism)
• Calcium Signaling
• Humans
• Incidence
• Mice
• Oxidative Stress
• Pancreatitis (epidemiology, metabolism)
• Reactive Oxygen Species (metabolism)