Calcium signalling in endothelial cells

Vascular endothelial cells are ubiquitous for their presence in each and every vessel and unique for their multifunctional nature. A large number of endothelial functions depend to various extents on changes in intracellular Ca2+ concentration. Reviewed are endothelial Ca2+ stores, Ca2+ channels, and in-out-in Ca2+ signalling events, from ligand-binding on the plasma membrane into depletion of intracellular Ca2+ stores and therefrom out to transplasmalemmal Ca2+ entry that is of prime importance for many endothelial functions. Special emphasis is placed on mechanisms regulating store-operated Ca2+ entry including a Ca2+ influx factor, the vesicle secretion-like model, the conformational coupling model, the membrane potential, cytochrome P450, protein tyrosine kinase, myosin light chain kinase and nitric oxide. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.