Annual review of physiologyPub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-11-10DOI: 10.1146/annurev-physiol-052424-082740
Carmen A Mannella, Pawel Swietach, Liron Boyman
{"title":"Calcium Regulation of Mitochondrial Metabolism.","authors":"Carmen A Mannella, Pawel Swietach, Liron Boyman","doi":"10.1146/annurev-physiol-052424-082740","DOIUrl":"10.1146/annurev-physiol-052424-082740","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Mitochondrial ATP production dynamically adapts to cellular energy demands, with calcium (Ca2+) playing a crucial regulatory role. In this review, we critically evaluate the evidence for intramitochondrial Ca2+ ([Ca2+]<sub>m</sub>) sensitivity in key energy metabolic pathways, highlighting the [Ca2+]<sub>m</sub> dependence of specific mitochondrial systems. We also address the metabolic consequences of [Ca2+]<sub>m</sub>-sensitive ATP production, particularly its effects on the utilization of specific macronutrients that fuel ATP production. Next, we discuss the primary Ca2+ entry pathway into the matrix, the mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter (MCU), its macromolecular complex structure (MCUcx), and allosteric regulation by Ca2+. Key to this regulation are specific auxiliary subunits, along with the influence of mitochondrial inner membrane architecture. While the Ca2+ signaling plays an important role, it does not fully explain the scope for regulating ATP production. Emerging evidence suggests that additional signaling systems operating alongside the Ca2+ signaling contribute to the control of mitochondrial ATP production, a topic requiring further investigation.</p>","PeriodicalId":8196,"journal":{"name":"Annual review of physiology","volume":" ","pages":"393-415"},"PeriodicalIF":20.3,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145487612","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Annual review of physiologyPub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-12-02DOI: 10.1146/annurev-physiol-042224-093212
Holly A Shiels
{"title":"From Oil Spills to Air Pollution: The Emergence of Phenanthrene as a Ubiquitous Cardiac Toxicant.","authors":"Holly A Shiels","doi":"10.1146/annurev-physiol-042224-093212","DOIUrl":"10.1146/annurev-physiol-042224-093212","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are released into the environment primarily through industrial processes and the incomplete combustion of organic matter. Their persistence in air, water, and soil facilitates widespread environmental distribution and exposure that directly impact the health of humans, other animals, and ecosystems. In recent years, the 3-ringed PAH phenanthrene has drawn particular interest for its specific cardiotoxicity. Phenanthrene can be transformed in the environment and within the body, leading to metabolites that can also influence heart function. Phenanthrene and its derivatives alter the electrical activity of the heart by inhibiting repolarizing (e.g., <i>I</i> <sub>K</sub>) currents and inhibiting depolarizing (e.g., <i>I</i> <sub>Na</sub> and <i>I</i> <sub>Ca</sub>) currents, which increase the probability of arrhythmias. Phenanthrene and its derivatives also impact cardiac contractility by reducing the amplitude of the intracellular Ca2+ transient in all species examined to date. This review begins by describing the sources and sinks of environmental phenanthrene and how it enters and accumulates within organisms. It then focuses on the potential for, and mechanisms of, modulation of cardiac activity by phenanthrene and its derivatives at the molecular, cellular, intact heart, and whole organism levels. The results provide a comprehensive summary of the propensity of phenanthrene to modulate vertebrate cardiac function, from fish exposed via crude oil to humans breathing polluted air.</p>","PeriodicalId":8196,"journal":{"name":"Annual review of physiology","volume":" ","pages":"129-154"},"PeriodicalIF":20.3,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145659989","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Annual review of physiologyPub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-11-06DOI: 10.1146/annurev-physiol-022724-105357
Kevin Hong Chen, Tatsuya Hagino, Zhaozhu Qiu
{"title":"The Proton-Activated Chloride Channel: Molecular Identification, Structure, and Role in Organelle Physiology.","authors":"Kevin Hong Chen, Tatsuya Hagino, Zhaozhu Qiu","doi":"10.1146/annurev-physiol-022724-105357","DOIUrl":"10.1146/annurev-physiol-022724-105357","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In 2019, a novel membrane protein, PAC (also known as TMEM206), was identified as the long-sought molecular carrier of an acid- or proton-activated chloride current observed ubiquitously in mammalian cells. This discovery has led to rapid progress in revealing its trimetric architecture and biophysical properties, including the pH-sensing mechanism, anion selectivity, and lipid regulation. In addition to the cell surface, the PAC channel predominantly localizes to intracellular organelles (endosomes, phagosomes, and macropinosomes), where it mediates pH-dependent chloride flux to regulate luminal pH and organelle volume. Here, we review these exciting findings and discuss the many aspects of the PAC channel that remain largely unexplored, including its pharmacology, physiological function, and potential role in disease.</p>","PeriodicalId":8196,"journal":{"name":"Annual review of physiology","volume":" ","pages":"371-391"},"PeriodicalIF":20.3,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145457394","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Annual review of physiologyPub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-11-10DOI: 10.1146/annurev-physiol-042924-083733
Tianlu Wang, Kai Zhang, Yubin Zhou
{"title":"Interrogating Physiological Functions with Light and Chemicals.","authors":"Tianlu Wang, Kai Zhang, Yubin Zhou","doi":"10.1146/annurev-physiol-042924-083733","DOIUrl":"10.1146/annurev-physiol-042924-083733","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Optogenetics and chemogenetics have transformed how physiologists interrogate biological systems by enabling precise control over protein activity and cellular function. Optogenetics uses light-sensitive proteins for rapid and localized control, while chemogenetics employs small molecules to trigger or block specific pathways with systemic and sustained effects. These tools have advanced research in areas such as brain function, heart rhythm, immune response, and gene regulation. They have been applied to disease models that include epilepsy, metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, immunoinflammatory disorders, and cancer. Clinical applications are emerging, such as optogenetic therapies for vision restoration and chemogenetic safety switches in engineered immune cells. In this review, we categorize these tools by their mechanisms of action, compare their advantages and limitations, and discuss strategies to improve their precision, efficiency, and translational capability. As these technologies continue to evolve, they offer powerful approaches to dissect complex physiological processes and drive innovative therapeutic interventions.</p>","PeriodicalId":8196,"journal":{"name":"Annual review of physiology","volume":" ","pages":"21-46"},"PeriodicalIF":20.3,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13152683/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145487675","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Annual review of physiologyPub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-10-03DOI: 10.1146/annurev-physiol-050824-111031
Amit Grover, Evgenii N Tcyganov, Dmitry I Gabrilovich
{"title":"Myeloid Cell Reprogramming and Immune Suppression.","authors":"Amit Grover, Evgenii N Tcyganov, Dmitry I Gabrilovich","doi":"10.1146/annurev-physiol-050824-111031","DOIUrl":"10.1146/annurev-physiol-050824-111031","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Plasticity of myeloid cells, characterized by their ability to undergo reprogramming in response to environmental cues, is a fundamental feature enabling their versatile functions during immune responses. Macrophages and neutrophils, the primary myeloid cell types, exhibit distinct polarization states. Classical polarization states of macrophages and neutrophils are associated with antimicrobial activity, inflammation promotion, and tissue remodeling. Pathological polarization, observed in chronic inflammation, cancer, and other conditions, is marked by enhanced immune-suppressive activity, aberrant enzymatic activity, and atypical cytokine production, diverging from their classical functions. This review delves into the most up-to-date characterization of those polarization states, the transcriptional and epigenetic factors, and the metabolic pathways governing myeloid cell reprogramming, highlighting the influence of cytokines and tissue-specific conditions, such as hypoxia in tumors, on this process. Understanding the mechanisms underlying the pathological polarization of myeloid cells offers a promising avenue to modulate their activity for targeted therapeutic interventions.</p>","PeriodicalId":8196,"journal":{"name":"Annual review of physiology","volume":" ","pages":"437-457"},"PeriodicalIF":20.3,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145224803","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Annual review of physiologyPub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-11-07DOI: 10.1146/annurev-physiol-061324-091825
Fang Yu, Lama Assaf, Khaled Machaca
{"title":"Coordinated Remodeling of Ca2+ Signaling and Intracellular Organelles During Cell Division.","authors":"Fang Yu, Lama Assaf, Khaled Machaca","doi":"10.1146/annurev-physiol-061324-091825","DOIUrl":"10.1146/annurev-physiol-061324-091825","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cell division is essential for organismal growth and development and is associated with changes in signaling dynamics, including Ca2+ signaling, to meet structural, functional, and energetic needs. The process of cell division must ensure equal separation of both the genetic material and cellular organelles. Organelle segregation to the daughter cells is in most cases associated with their remodeling to support equal distribution. Here, we review the concurrent remodeling of organelles and Ca2+ signaling during cell division. Interesting patterns emerge, showing that organelle dynamics, specifically the plasma membrane, endoplasmic reticulum, and mitochondria, underlie Ca2+ signaling remodeling during cell division.</p>","PeriodicalId":8196,"journal":{"name":"Annual review of physiology","volume":" ","pages":"417-436"},"PeriodicalIF":20.3,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145470617","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Annual review of physiologyPub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-09-18DOI: 10.1146/annurev-physiol-042924-084007
Francesca Polverino, Don D Sin
{"title":"The Developmental Origins of Asthma and COPD.","authors":"Francesca Polverino, Don D Sin","doi":"10.1146/annurev-physiol-042924-084007","DOIUrl":"10.1146/annurev-physiol-042924-084007","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Approximately two-thirds of cases of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and adult asthma are in part driven by impaired lung development related to early-life events. Many children who suffer insults to their lungs during the first few years of life experience abnormal lung development, growth, and/or maturation, leading to impaired lung function, which may persist throughout their lifespan. This abnormal lung trajectory may be exacerbated by lung dysanapsis, genetic and epigenetic alterations, oxidative stress and/or inflammation in the airways related to environmental factors including exposure to active or secondhand smoke, air pollution, poor nutrition and social deprivation, and repeated childhood respiratory tract infections. Children with asthma may transition to COPD in adulthood if their asthma is poorly controlled or in the presence of other risk factors such as smoking. As many of these factors are modifiable, prompt diagnosis and implementation of preventive measures should be considered as early as possible in children at risk for abnormal lung development. This review provides an update on the interplay between genetic, environmental, and socioeconomic factors, their cumulative impact on lung development, and its implication for the risk and burden of asthma and COPD in the global population.</p>","PeriodicalId":8196,"journal":{"name":"Annual review of physiology","volume":" ","pages":"513-535"},"PeriodicalIF":20.3,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13285957/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145084935","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Annual review of physiologyPub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-11-10DOI: 10.1146/annurev-physiol-042324-100329
Clemence Blouet, Gary J Schwartz
{"title":"Brain Nutrient Sensing: A Unifying Framework.","authors":"Clemence Blouet, Gary J Schwartz","doi":"10.1146/annurev-physiol-042324-100329","DOIUrl":"10.1146/annurev-physiol-042324-100329","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Whole-body nutrient homeostasis is critical for healthy growth, successful reproduction, and survival. We propose a conceptual framework emphasizing the role of brain nutrient sensing in mediating adaptive responses for the maintenance of nutrient homeostasis. Specialized brain nutrient-sensing cells monitor nutrients and meal-related signals, provide feedback responses to maintain internal nutrient availability, and adapt physiological functions according to environmental nutrient fluctuations. Maladaptive functioning of these pathways may underlie multiple pathophysiological conditions, including cardiometabolic and neurodegenerative diseases. By examining recent advances, this review highlights the importance of brain nutrient sensing in adaptive systemic physiology and behavior, exploring the potential of these neural pathways as therapeutic targets extending beyond obesity management. Ultimately, the goal of this review is to synthesize current evidence into a coherent framework that guides new mechanistic hypotheses, facilitating deeper investigation into how brain nutrient sensing influences health and contributes to disease pathogenesis.</p>","PeriodicalId":8196,"journal":{"name":"Annual review of physiology","volume":" ","pages":"203-227"},"PeriodicalIF":20.3,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7619447/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145487602","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Annual review of physiologyPub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-11-04DOI: 10.1146/annurev-physiol-043024-115512
Juliana H Boukhaled, Emily M Martin, Nathalie Gayrard, Àngel Argilés, Morten A Karsdal, Federica Genovese
{"title":"Scarred by Fibrosis: The Heart-Kidney Disease Connection.","authors":"Juliana H Boukhaled, Emily M Martin, Nathalie Gayrard, Àngel Argilés, Morten A Karsdal, Federica Genovese","doi":"10.1146/annurev-physiol-043024-115512","DOIUrl":"10.1146/annurev-physiol-043024-115512","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cardiorenal syndrome (CRS) represents a complex interplay of pathophysiological processes that create a self-perpetuating cycle of heart and kidney dysfunction. While it is clearly understood how hemodynamic changes connect pathogenesis in the two organs, other processes are also in play. Some are the structural changes involving both the cellular and extracellular compartments that precede functional alterations. Fibrosis, which is initiated by an inflammatory response triggering myofibroblast activation and excessive extracellular matrix production, is a common denominator of heart and kidney pathology in CRS. This review focuses on fibroblast activities as a crucial factor in disease onset and progression in CRS. We explore how fibrosis in one organ can trigger or worsen dysfunction in the other organ, and we describe the key pathological signaling pathways of cardiorenal fibrosis, the extracellular matrix-derived biomarkers that can aid clinical management and drug development, and the therapeutic opportunities that can be beneficial in CRS by targeting fibroblast activities.</p>","PeriodicalId":8196,"journal":{"name":"Annual review of physiology","volume":" ","pages":"183-202"},"PeriodicalIF":20.3,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145443623","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Annual review of physiologyPub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-11-10DOI: 10.1146/annurev-physiol-050624-092133
Annika Keller
{"title":"Pathophysiology of Primary Familial Brain Calcification.","authors":"Annika Keller","doi":"10.1146/annurev-physiol-050624-092133","DOIUrl":"10.1146/annurev-physiol-050624-092133","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Primary familial brain calcification (PFBC) is a dominantly or recessively inherited neurodegenerative disease characterized by bilateral basal ganglia calcifications. Patients affected by PFBC present with diverse motor and nonmotor symptoms. Mutations in seven genes (<i>SLC20A2</i>, <i>XPR1</i>, <i>PDGFB</i>, <i>PDGFRB</i>, <i>MYORG</i>, <i>NAA60</i>, and <i>JAM2</i>) are associated with PFBC. PFBC genes encode proteins that comprise inorganic phosphate transporters, growth factor and its receptor, a cell adhesion molecule, and enzymes. It remains to be determined whether these proteins interact within a single disrupted pathway or whether mutations affect distinct pathways in the same cell type. Although vessel calcification is a diagnostic criterion of PFBC, its causal role in neurodegeneration needs to be established. This review provides an overview of PFBC genes, including animal models that have yielded insights into the underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms, such as the role of specific cell types in the progression of vascular calcification.</p>","PeriodicalId":8196,"journal":{"name":"Annual review of physiology","volume":" ","pages":"273-296"},"PeriodicalIF":20.3,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145487663","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}