Signal transduction machinery of the parietal cell secretory system

It is well recognized that in cells of many higher eukaryotic organisms, Ca2+ ions and cyclic 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) are used as ubiquitous intracellular messengers in the regulation of cellular function*. The function of the gastric parietal cells is also regulated by these two different second messengers, leading to the secretion of HCl. In addition, multiple regulatory pathways might be involved in the parietal cell function to inhibit acid secretion. These pathways potentiate and interface with each other to modulate parietal cell I secretion. This review will describe the possible mechanisms by which intracellular second messenger systems interact in the modulation of the parietal cell response.