Calcium signalling in hepatic metabolism: Health and diseases.

The flexibility between the wide array of hepatic functions relies on calcium (Ca) signalling. Indeed, Ca is implicated in the control of many intracellular functions as well as intercellular communication. Thus, hepatocytes adapt their Ca signalling depending on their nutritional and hormonal environment, leading to opposite cellular functions, such as glucose storage or synthesis. Interestingly, hepatic metabolic diseases, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases, are associated with impaired Ca signalling. Here, we present the hepatocytes' toolkit for Ca signalling, complete with regulation systems and signalling pathways activated by nutrients and hormones. We further discuss the current knowledge on the molecular mechanisms leading to alterations of Ca signalling in hepatic metabolic diseases, and review the literature on the clinical impact of Ca-targeting therapeutics.