As an important second messenger in adipocytes, calcium ions (Ca2+) are essential in regulating various intracellular signalling pathways that control critical cellular functions. Calcium channels show selective permeability to Ca2+ and facilitate Ca2+ entry into the cytoplasm, which are normally located in the plasmatic and intracellular membranes. The increase of cytosolic Ca2+ modulates a variety of signalling pathways and results in the transcription of target genes that contribute to adipogenesis, a key cellular event includes proliferation and differentiation of adipocyte. In the past decades, the involvement of some Ca2+-permeable ion channels, such as Ca2+ release-activated Ca2+ channels, transient receptor potential channels, voltage-gated calcium channels and others, in adipogenesis has been extensively explored. In the present review, we provided a summary of the expression and contributions of these Ca2+-permeable channels in mediating Ca2+ influxes that drive adipogenesis. Moreover, we discussed their potentials as future therapeutic targets.
Keywords: Calcium channels; adipocyte differentiation; adipogenesis; body weight; calcium signalling; obesity; proliferation; trp channels.