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The role of calpain in oncotic cell death

Xiuli Liu1, Terry Van Vleet, Rick G Schnellmann

  • 1Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205, USA. xiuliliu@hotmail.com

Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology
|January 28, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Calpains, calcium-activated proteases, contribute to cell death by degrading key proteins. Inhibitors show promise for cytoprotection, but specific roles require further investigation.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Medicine

Background:

  • Calpains are calcium-activated neutral cysteine proteases implicated in cell death.
  • Their precise roles in physiology and pathology, and the biochemistry of most calpains, are not fully understood.
  • Calpain substrates include cytoskeletal and plasma membrane proteins.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of calpains in oncotic cell death.
  • To identify specific calpain isozymes and their substrates involved in cellular dysfunction.
  • To explore the potential of calpain inhibitors for therapeutic applications.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on calpain function in cell death models.
  • Analysis of studies identifying calpain substrates and their effects on cellular integrity.
  • Examination of research on calpain inhibitors and their cytoprotective properties.

Main Results:

  • Calpains mediate increased plasma membrane permeability and breakdown in oncosis via proteolysis.
  • Mitochondrial dysfunction in oncosis may involve an unidentified mitochondrial calpain.
  • Various calpain inhibitors demonstrate cytoprotective effects in cellular systems and in vivo.

Conclusions:

  • Further research should elucidate specific calpain isozyme roles in health and disease.
  • Linking specific calpain substrates to altered cellular functions is crucial.
  • Development of potent, selective calpain inhibitors is a key therapeutic goal.

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