Ca2+/
calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (
CaMKII) is a multifunctional
protein kinase and has been recently recognized to play a vital role in pathological events in the pulmonary system.
CaMKII has diverse downstream targets that promote
vascular disease,
asthma, and
cancer, so improved understanding of
CaMKII signaling has the potential to lead to new
therapies for
lung diseases. Multiple studies have demonstrated that
CaMKII is involved in redox modulation of
ryanodine receptors (RyRs).
CaMKII can be directly activated by
reactive oxygen species (ROS) which then regulates RyR activity, which is essential for Ca2+-dependent processes in
lung diseases. Furthermore, both
CaMKII and RyRs participate in the
inflammation process. However, their role in the pulmonary physiology in response to ROS is still an ambiguous one. Because
CaMKII and RyRs are important in pulmonary biology, cell survival, cell cycle control, and
inflammation, it is possible that the relationship between ROS and
CaMKII/RyRs signal complex will be necessary for understanding and treating
lung diseases. Here, we review roles of
CaMKII/RyRs in
lung diseases to understand with how
CaMKII/RyRs may act as a transduction signal to connect prooxidant conditions into specific downstream pathological effects that are relevant to rare and common forms of
pulmonary disease.