CaMK II in Cardiovascular Diseases, Especially CaMK II-δ: Friends or Enemies

Drug Des Devel Ther. 2024 Aug 5:18:3461-3476. doi: 10.2147/DDDT.S473251. eCollection 2024.

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) tend to affect the young population and are associated with a significant economic burden and psychological distress to the society and families. The physiological and pathological processes underlying CVDs are complex. Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase II (CaMK II), a protein kinase, has multiple biological functions. It participates in multiple pathological processes and plays a central role in the development of CVDs. Based on this, this paper analyzes the structural characteristics and distribution of CaMK II, the mechanism of action of CaMK II, and the relationship between CaMK II and CVDs, including ion channels, ischemia-reperfusion injury, arrhythmias, myocardial hypertrophy, cardiotoxicity, hypertension, and dilated cardiomyopathy. Given the different regulatory mechanisms of different isoforms of CaMK II, the clinical use of specific targeted inhibitors or novel compounds should be evaluated in future research to provide new directions.

Keywords: CaMK II; arrhythmias; cardiovascular diseases; ischemia-reperfusion injury; myocardial hypertrophy.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2* / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2* / metabolism
  • Cardiovascular Diseases*
  • Humans
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology

Substances

  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors

Grants and funding

This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 82074396); the capital health research and development of special (No. 2020-1-4151); the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences Innovation Fund-Major research project (No. CI2021A05011; CI2021B017-05).