Calcium-mediated mechanisms in chemically induced cell death

There is now convincing evidence that the calcium ion can play a critical role in cell killing in various tissues. Recent research has established some of the biochemical mechanisms by which intracellular Ca2+ overload can trigger either necrotic or apoptotic cell death, and a number of studies have shown that prevention of Ca2+. overload by pretreatment with either Ca2+ chelators, receptor antagonists, or channel blockers can rescue cells that would otherwise die. This overview summarizes current evidence for an association between a perturbation of intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis and cytotoxicity and discusses various Ca2+-mediated mechanisms that may lead to the death of cells.