Calcineurin Is a Universal Regulator of Vessel Function—Focus on Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

Calcineurin, a serine/threonine phosphatase regulating transcription factors like NFaT and CREB, is well known for its immune modulatory effects and role in cardiac hypertrophy. Results from experiments with calcineurin knockout animals and calcineurin inhibitors indicate that calcineurin also plays a crucial role in vascular function, especially in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). In the aorta, calcineurin stimulates the proliferation and migration of VSMCs in response to vascular injury or angiotensin II administration, leading to pathological vessel wall thickening. In the heart, calcineurin mediates coronary artery formation and VSMC differentiation, which are crucial for proper heart development. In pulmonary VSMCs, calcineurin/NFaT signaling regulates the release of Ca(2+), resulting in increased vascular tone followed by pulmonary arterial hypertension. In renal VSMCs, calcineurin regulates extracellular matrix secretion promoting fibrosis development. In the mesenteric and cerebral arteries, calcineurin mediates a phenotypic switch of VSMCs leading to altered cell function. Gaining deeper insights into the underlying mechanisms of calcineurin signaling will help researchers to understand developmental and pathogenetical aspects of the vasculature. In this review, we provide an overview of the physiological function and pathophysiology of calcineurin in the vascular system with a focus on vascular smooth muscle cells in different organs. Overall, there are indications that under certain pathological settings reduced calcineurin activity seems to be beneficial for cardiovascular health.