Physiologic and pathophysiologic role of calpain: implications for the occurrence of atrial fibrillation

Calpain is an intracellular Ca(2+)-activated protease and an important mediator of the actions of calcium. Cleavage by calpain is critical in a variety of calcium-regulated cellular processes such as muscle contraction, neuronal excitability, secretion, signal transduction, cell proliferation, differentiation, cell cycle progression, and apoptosis. Deregulation of calpain caused by a disruption of calcium homeostasis during cardiac pathologies such as atrial fibrillation, heart failure, hypertrophy, or ischemia reperfusion, is critically involved in the myocardial damage. This review will summarize the physiologic and pathophysiologic basis of calpain. Atrial fibrillation is chosen as one example to explain the specific consequences of an increased calpain activity in cardiac muscle.