Calcium-mediated Gene Expression: Mechanism for Neuronal Plasticity and Survival

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Abstract
Calcium plays a central role in many proposed mechanisms of neuronal plasticity as well as neuronal death and degeneration. The observation that certain calcium channel antag onists dramatically protect neurons in a variety of neurological disease models has led to a general strategy for neuroprotection: broadly block calcium entry. However, emerging evidence suggests that calcium can promote neuronal survival and plasticity or death and degeneration, depending on the route of entry. Calcium may partly promote neuronal survival through the autocrine action of neurotrophins such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor. Calcium-mediated neurotrophin secretion may also promote synapse formation during development and in conditions of chronic abnormal neuronal activity such as ep ilepsy. A full understanding of these signal transduction pathways could lead to refined pharmacological strategies that minimize calcium's deadly effects and optimize its growth- and survival-promoting properties. The Neuroscientist 1:317-320,1995