Sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium handling (SR Ca2+ handling)

Sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) calcium handling is a fundamental physiological process that regulates the concentration of calcium ions within myocytes to control muscle contraction and relaxation [13, 14]. This system is central to excitation-contraction coupling, where calcium is released from the SR via ryanodine receptors (RyR) to trigger contraction and is subsequently pumped back into the SR by the sarco/endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase (SERCA) to facilitate relaxation [1, 10]. Impairments in this process, such as reduced SERCA activity or pathological calcium leak through RyR, are key drivers of heart failure and arrhythmias like catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) [5, 8, 16]. Therapeutic strategies focus on restoring calcium homeostasis through SERCA activation, RyR stabilization, or gene therapy to normalize protein expression [6, 7, 9]. These treatments aim to enhance cardiac pump function and prevent life-threatening electrical instability [4, 15].

Other names

Sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium cyclingSR calcium handlingSR Ca2+ handlingExcitation-contraction coupling system

Pharmacological activation of SERCA2a, inhibition or stabilization of RyR2 channels, and gene-based restoration of calcium-handling protein expression [1, 6, 9].