The Role of Calcium in the Human Heart: With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility

Abstract

The heart is a pump that brings blood to every part of the body. Calcium plays important roles in the electrical activity and pumping function of the heart. Calcium particles enter the heart muscle cells during each heartbeat and contribute to the electrical signal that coordinates the heart's function. Calcium particles also bind to machinery within the cell that helps the cell to squeeze together (``contract''), which makes the heart pump blood. In some diseases, the doors controlling the movement of calcium malfunction, leading to abnormal electrical signals, which may cause a group of heart diseases called heart rhythm disorders. In addition, abnormal regulation of calcium may directly impair pumping function or relaxation of the heart. Scientists have identified that calcium-handling abnormalities play major roles in many heart rhythm disorders. However, despite the advancements in (bio)medical technologies, several important questions about the mechanisms and treatment of calcium-related problems remain.