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[Progress in the physiological and pathophysiological functions of sodium calcium exchangers.] [Article in Chinese]

SU Jun-Jie, QI Ge-Yao, DANG Xiao-Zhi, YANG Nian, ZHANG Jun

Battalion Four of Student Brigade and Department of Physiology, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China

Abstract

Sodium calcium exchanger (NCX), which is widely expressed in the plasma membrane, mitochondrial membrane and secretory vesicles in diverse kinds of cells, belongs to a type of cation translocators. NCX works in two modes, the forward mode and reverse mode, to regulate the intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration bi-directionally. In the forward mode, NCX carries Ca²⁺ out of the cell against its electrochemical gradients coupled to the influx of Na+ down its electrochemical gradients; alternatively, Ca²⁺ enters through the reverse mode of NCX, and Na+ is carried out of the cell. Exactly through the two-way modes, NCX can regulate intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration fleetly and accurately, and plays a critical role in a series of physiological processes including intracellular signal transduction, growth and development of cells, excitation and its coupled functions of excitable cells. NCX are acknowledged to be involved in myofiber contraction, neurotransmission, migration and differentiation of neurogliocyte, activation of immune cells, secretion of cytokines and hormones etc. Moreover, abnormal activation of the reverse mode of NCX plays a vital role in many pathological processes including cell apoptosis, ischemia-reperfusion injury, insulin secretion, tumor etc. Here we reviewed the research status about the NCX's participation in some physiological and pathophysiological processes, so as to provide comprehensive understanding about its functions.

Key words: sodium-calcium exchanger; intracellular Ca2+ concentration; forward mode; reverse mode

Received: 2013-08-20　　Accepted: 2013-11-19

Corresponding author: 张骏　　E-mail: zhangjun.cc@gmail.com

Citing This Article：

SU Jun-Jie, QI Ge-Yao, DANG Xiao-Zhi, YANG Nian, ZHANG Jun. [Progress in the physiological and pathophysiological functions of sodium calcium exchangers.] [Article in Chinese]. Acta Physiol Sin 2014; 66 (2): 241-251 (in Chinese with English abstract).