Calcineurin in development and disease

Lei Chen; Min Song; Chunyan Yao

doi:10.1016/j.gendis.2021.03.002

Calcineurin in development and disease

Genes Dis. 2021 Mar 15;9(4):915-927. doi: 10.1016/j.gendis.2021.03.002. eCollection 2022 Jul.

Authors

Lei Chen¹, Min Song¹, Chunyan Yao¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Blood Transfusion, First Affiliated Hospital, The Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing 400038, PR China.

Abstract

Calcineurin (CaN) is a unique calcium (Ca²⁺) and calmodulin (CaM)-dependent serine/threonine phosphatase that becomes activated in the presence of increased intracellular Ca²⁺ level. CaN then functions to dephosphorylate target substrates including various transcription factors, receptors, and channels. Once activated, the CaN signaling pathway participates in the development of multiple organs as well as the onset and progression of various diseases via regulation of different cellular processes. Here, we review current literature regarding the structural and functional properties of CaN, highlighting its crucial role in the development and pathogenesis of immune system disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, kidney disease, cardiomyopathy and cancer.

Keywords: Calcineurin; Cancer; Cardiomyopathy; Development; Immune system disease; Kidney disease; Neurodegeneration.

Publication types

Review