Host Calcium Channels and Pumps in Viral Infections

oleh: Xingjuan Chen, Ruiyuan Cao, Wu Zhong

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2019-12-01

Deskripsi

Ca<sup>2+</sup> is essential for virus entry, viral gene replication, virion maturation, and release. The alteration of host cells Ca<sup>2+</sup> homeostasis is one of the strategies that viruses use to modulate host cells signal transduction mechanisms in their favor. Host calcium-permeable channels and pumps (including voltage-gated calcium channels, store-operated channels, receptor-operated channels, transient receptor potential ion channels, and Ca<sup>2+</sup>-ATPase) mediate Ca<sup>2+</sup> across the plasma membrane or subcellular organelles, modulating intracellular free Ca<sup>2+</sup>. Therefore, these Ca<sup>2+</sup> channels or pumps present important aspects of viral pathogenesis and virus&#8722;host interaction. It has been reported that viruses hijack host calcium channels or pumps, disturbing the cellular homeostatic balance of Ca<sup>2+</sup>. Such a disturbance benefits virus lifecycles while inducing host cells&#8217; morbidity. Evidence has emerged that pharmacologically targeting the calcium channel or calcium release from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) can obstruct virus lifecycles. Impeding virus-induced abnormal intracellular Ca<sup>2+</sup> homeostasis is becoming a useful strategy in the development of potent antiviral drugs. In this present review, the recent identified cellular calcium channels and pumps as targets for virus attack are emphasized.