Role of oxidants on calcium and sodium movement in healthy and diseased cardiac myocytes

In this review article we give an overview of current knowledge with respect to redox-sensitive alterations in Na+ and Ca2+ handling in the heart. In particular, we focus on redox-activated protein kinases including cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA), protein kinase C (PKC), and Ca/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII), as well as on redox-regulated downstream targets such as Na+ and Ca2+ transporters and channels. We highlight the pathological and physiological relevance of reactive oxygen species and some of its sources (such as NADPH oxidases, NOXes) for excitation-contraction coupling (ECC). A short outlook with respect to the clinical relevance of redox-dependent Na+ and Ca2+ imbalance will be given.