IP 3 receptors, stress and apoptosis

Abstract

Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP 3) receptors are intracellular calcium channels that are able to release calcium from intracellular stores upon activation by IP 3 and modulation by calcium. IP 3 receptors are involved in variety of processes during physiological, but also in the pathophysiological states. Unraveling their regulation and function, especially under the pathological situations can result in a development of new therapeutic strategies based on the IP 3 receptor's activation and/or blocking. To the stimuli that can modulate IP 3 receptors belong several stress factors (e.g. immobilization stress, oxidative stress and hypoxia) and also apoptosis. Depending on the length and strength of the stress stimulus, expression of IP 3 receptors can be increased, or decreased. Therefore, in this minireview modulation of IP 3 receptors by some stressors is discussed. Since it was already shown that strong hypoxia might lead to the apoptosis induction, special focus will be given to the hypoxic stress and induction of apoptosis.