Ca(2+)-dependent mechanisms of cytotoxicity and programmed cell death

There is increasing evidence that the calcium ion plays a critical role in both toxic cell killing and programmed cell death. Thus, in a variety of experimental systems a perturbation of intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis due to increased Ca2+ influx and/or inhibition of Ca2+ extrusion has been found to be an early event in the development of cell injury. It is clear that sustained increases in intracellular Ca2+ can activate cytotoxic mechanisms which result in perturbations of cellular structure and function. For example, the stimulation of Ca(2+)-dependent proteases can result in a disruption of cytoskeletal organization and the formation of surface protrusions (blebs) and Ca(2+)-mediated phospholipase activation can result in an impairment of mitochondrial function with collapse of membrane potential and cessation of ATP synthesis. The activation of a Ca2+, Mg(2+)-dependent nuclear endonuclease is associated with chromatin cleavage and appears to play a crucial role in programmed cell death (apoptosis) in the immune system and other tissues. There is also recent evidence that this process may be responsible for the immunotoxicity of dioxins and organotin compounds and involved in the killing of adenocarcinoma cells by tumor necrosis factor alpha. Although calcium ions appear to be required for endonuclease activity during apoptosis, this process is also influenced by other factors, e.g. protein kinase C activity, intracellular polyamine and Zn2+ levels, chromatin structure, etc. Thus, the regulation of endonuclease activity under both physiological and toxicological conditions appears to be complex and to involve multiple factors.