Pancreatic Calcium Signaling: Role in Health and Disease

In order to control cell functions, extracellular agents, such as hormones or neurotransmitters among others, generate a diversity of calcium (Ca2+) signals in target cells. Here, we review the components involved in Ca2+ handling and effectors, both members of the known calcium signaling pathways. In the pancreas, Ca2+ signal appears as local increases, global elevations or Ca2+ oscillations. Ca2+ plays a key role in the pancreatic cells, regulating secretion in exocrine cells, a widely used model for studying the coupling between Ca2+ signaling and secretion, and the release of insulin, glucagon and somatostatin in the exocrine pancreas. Interestingly, Ca2+ deregulations have been related to pancreatitis and aging of the pancreas, and treatment with melatonin has shown beneficial effects suggesting that melatonin could be an adequate therapeutic approach.