Stress-Induced calcium mishandling in cardiac (Patho)physiology

Calcium (Ca2+) is an essential regulator of cardiac function. Particularly, Ca2+ is the primary link between the electrical signals regulating contractility of the myocytes and thus allowing the heart chambers to relax and refill completely with blood. Additionally, Ca2+ controls numerous other activities including gene transcription, cell growth, and survival. The abnormal Ca2+ regulation and cycling in the cardiomyocyte following various stressor's, insults and during cardiac disease development has been found to be a primary culprit leading to cellular dysfunction and potentially to cell death and ultimately resulting in impaired cardiac function and disease development. This review aims to briefly describe our current understanding regarding the role of Ca2+ signaling in cardiac function under physiological and stressed conditions.