Abstract

To live or to die? This crucial question eloquently reflects the dual role of Ca²⁺ in living organisms – survival factor or ruthless killer. It has long been known that Ca²⁺ signals govern a host of vital cell functions and so are necessary for cell survival. However, more recently it has become clear that cellular Ca²⁺ overload, or perturbation of intracellular Ca²⁺ compartmentalization, can cause cytotoxicity and trigger either apoptotic or necrotic cell death.

Author affiliations

1. Institute of Environmental Medicine, Division of Toxicology, Karolinska Institutet, Box 210, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden.
2. MRC Toxicology Unit, Hodgkin Building, University of Leicester, Lancaster Road, Leicester LEI 9HN, UK.

Correspondence to: Sten Orrenius¹ Email: Sten.Orrenius@imm.ki.se