Ca2+ source-dependent transcription of CRE-containing genes in vascular smooth muscle.

Altered Ca2+ handling has immediate physiological and long-term genomic effects on vascular smooth muscle function. Previously we showed that Ca2+ entry through voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels (VDCCs) or store-operated Ca2+ channels (SOCCs) results in phosphorylation of the Ca2+/cAMP response element (CRE)-binding protein in cerebral arteries. Here, oligonucleotide array analysis was used to determine gene transcription profiles resulting from these two Ca2+ entry pathways in human cerebrovascular smooth muscle cell cultures.

Excitation-transcription coupling in smooth muscle.

Calcium (Ca2+) signals affect virtually every biological process, including both contraction and gene transcription in smooth muscle. Ca2+-regulated gene transcription is known to be important for both physiological and pathological responses in smooth muscle. The aim of this review is to discuss the current understanding of gene transcription regulated by excitation through Ca2+ signalling using a comparison of the two most characterized Ca2+-regulated transcription factors in smooth muscle, Ca2+-cyclic AMP response element binding protein (CREB) and nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT).