Calcium Signaling in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells: From Physiology to Pathology

Cyclic variations in calcium (Ca2+) concentrations, through a process called excitation-contraction coupling, allow regulation of vascular smooth muscle cells contractility and thus modulation of vascular tone and blood pressure. As a second messenger, Ca2+ also activates signaling cascades leading to transcription factors activation in a process called excitation-transcription coupling. Furthermore, recent evidences indicate an interaction between post-transcriptional regulation by microRNAs (miRNAs) and Ca2+ signaling. All these actors, which are frequently altered in vascular diseases, will be reviewed here.