Calcium Signaling and Transcriptional Regulation in Cardiomyocytes

Calcium (Ca) is a universal regulator of various cellular functions. In cardiomyocytes, Ca is the central element of excitation–contraction coupling, but also impacts diverse signaling cascades and influences the regulation of gene expression, referred to as excitation–transcription coupling. Disturbances in cellular Ca-handling and alterations in Ca-dependent gene expression patterns are pivotal characteristics of failing cardiomyocytes, with several excitation–transcription coupling pathways shown to be critically involved in structural and functional remodeling processes. Thus, targeting Ca-dependent transcriptional pathways might offer broad therapeutic potential. In this article, we (1) review cytosolic and nuclear Ca dynamics in cardiomyocytes with respect to their impact on Ca-dependent signaling, (2) give an overview on Ca-dependent transcriptional pathways in cardiomyocytes, and (3) discuss implications of excitation–transcription coupling in the diseased heart.