Mitochondrial Ca2+ and the heart

Cell Calcium. 2008 Jul;44(1):77-91. doi: 10.1016/j.ceca.2007.11.002. Epub 2008 Feb 21.

Abstract

It is now well established that mitochondria accumulate Ca(2+) ions during cytosolic Ca(2+) ([Ca(2+)](i)) elevations in a variety of cell types including cardiomyocytes. Elevations in intramitochondrial Ca(2+) ([Ca(2+)](m)) activate several key enzymes in the mitochondrial matrix to enhance ATP production, alter the spatial and temporal profile of intracellular Ca(2+) signaling, and play an important role in the initiation of cell death pathways. Moreover, mitochondrial Ca(2+) uptake stimulates nitric oxide (NO) production by mitochondria, which modulates oxygen consumption, ATP production, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and in turn provides negative feedback for the regulation of mitochondrial Ca(2+) accumulation. Controversy remains, however, whether in cardiac myocytes mitochondrial Ca(2+) transport mechanisms allow beat-to-beat transmission of fast cytosolic [Ca(2+)](i) oscillations into oscillatory changes in mitochondrial matrix [Ca(2+)](m). This review critically summarizes the recent experimental work in this field.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Triphosphate / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Calcium / metabolism*
  • Calcium Signaling / physiology*
  • Energy Metabolism / physiology*
  • Feedback, Physiological / physiology
  • Heart / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Mitochondria, Heart / physiology*
  • Myocardial Contraction / physiology
  • Myocardium / ultrastructure
  • Nitric Oxide / metabolism
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism

Substances

  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Nitric Oxide
  • Adenosine Triphosphate
  • Calcium