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Updated: Jun 28, 2025
10:24
Cytosolic Calcium Measurements in Renal Epithelial Cells by Flow Cytometry
Published on: October 28, 2014
15.3K
Calcium signalling and transport in the kidney
Alexander Staruschenko1,2,3, R Todd Alexander4,5, Michael J Caplan6
1Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA. staruschenko@usf.edu.
Nature Reviews. Nephrology
|April 19, 2024
Summary
The kidney precisely regulates body calcium levels through nephron reabsorption, crucial for bone health and cell signaling. Disruptions in renal calcium handling can cause kidney stones and polycystic kidney disease.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Renal Physiology
- Calcium Homeostasis
Background:
- The kidney is vital for maintaining calcium homeostasis, reabsorbing ~98% of filtered calcium in the nephron.
- Proper calcium regulation is essential for bone mineralization, stable serum calcium, and intracellular signaling.
- Renal calcium handling relies on a balance of channels, transporters, and binding proteins.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an updated review of renal calcium handling mechanisms.
- To focus on the function of renal calcium channels and their regulatory stimuli.
- To discuss calcium's role as an intracellular messenger and pathophysiology of its dysregulation.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on renal calcium transport.
- Analysis of the roles of specific calcium channels and proteins.
- Discussion of physiological and pathophysiological aspects of renal calcium handling.
Main Results:
- Kidney reabsorbs most filtered calcium, tightly controlling homeostasis.
- Dysfunctional calcium channels/proteins lead to polycystic kidney disease and kidney stones.
- Calcium acts as a critical intracellular second messenger in renal cells.
Conclusions:
- Understanding renal calcium handling is key to preventing kidney diseases.
- Further research into calcium channels and signaling pathways is warranted.
- Targeting renal calcium regulation may offer therapeutic strategies for kidney disorders.
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