An Overview of the Role of Calcium/Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase in Cardiorenal Syndrome

Carolina Victoria Cruz Junho; Wellington Caio-Silva; Mayra Trentin-Sonoda; Marcela Sorelli Carneiro-Ramos

doi:10.3389/fphys.2020.00735

An Overview of the Role of Calcium/Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase in Cardiorenal Syndrome

Front Physiol. 2020 Jul 14:11:735. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2020.00735. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Carolina Victoria Cruz Junho¹, Wellington Caio-Silva¹, Mayra Trentin-Sonoda², Marcela Sorelli Carneiro-Ramos¹

Affiliations

¹ Center of Natural and Human Sciences (CCNH), Universidade Federal do ABC, Santo André, Brazil.
² Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Kidney Research Centre, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.

Abstract

Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinases (CaMKs) are key regulators of calcium signaling in health and disease. CaMKII is the most abundant isoform in the heart; although classically described as a regulator of excitation-contraction coupling, recent studies show that it can also mediate inflammation in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Among CVDs, cardiorenal syndrome (CRS) represents a pressing issue to be addressed, considering the growing incidence of kidney diseases worldwide. In this review, we aimed to discuss the role of CaMK as an inflammatory mediator in heart and kidney interaction by conducting an extensive literature review using the database PubMed. Here, we summarize the role and regulating mechanisms of CaMKII present in several quality studies, providing a better understanding for future investigations of CamKII in CVDs. Surprisingly, despite the obvious importance of CaMKII in the heart, very little is known about CaMKII in CRS. In conclusion, more studies are necessary to further understand the role of CaMKII in CRS.

Keywords: CaMKII; cardiorenal syndrome; cardiovascular diseases; immune system; inflammation.

Publication types

Review