Key result
Zinc acts as an intracellular signalling molecule that may shape calcium dynamics in cardiac muscle, potentially targeting the cardiac ryanodine receptor (RyR2).
This review highlights the emerging concept of zinc as a second messenger in cardiac muscle, potentially modulating calcium dynamics via the ryanodine receptor (RyR2).
Zinc may modulate cardiac calcium release via RyR2; leaves open therapeutic targeting and requires prospective validation.
It is well established that mammalian cells contain a small but measurable pool of free or labile zinc in the cytosol that is buffered in the high picomolar range. Recent attention has focused on the fact that this pool of free zinc has signalling effects that can be evoked through extracellular stimuli posing the question as to whether zinc should be regarded as a second messenger. Our knowledge of the targets, the biological significance and the molecular mechanisms of zinc signalling is limited but recent evidence suggests that zinc homoeostasis may be intimately linked to intracellular calcium signalling. In this review, we discuss the role of zinc as an intracellular signalling molecule with an emphasis on the potential role of zinc in shaping calcium-dynamics in cardiac muscle. We also consider the evidence that the cardiac ryanodine receptor (RyR2) is a potential zinc signalling target.
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Pitt et al. (2015) conducted a review in Cardiac muscle calcium dynamics. Zinc signalling was evaluated. Zinc acts as an intracellular signalling molecule that may shape calcium dynamics in cardiac muscle, potentially targeting the cardiac ryanodine receptor (RyR2).
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