Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a leading cause of hospitalization among non-malignant gastrointestinal disorders. The mortality of severe AP can reach 30–50%, which is most probably owing to the lack of specific treatment. Therefore, AP is a major healthcare problem, which urges researchers to identify novel drug targets. Studies from the last decades highlighted that the toxic cellular Ca²⁺ overload and mitochondrial damage are key pathogenic steps in the disease development affecting both acinar and ductal cell functions. Moreover, recent observations showed that modifying the cellular Ca²⁺ signalling might be beneficial in AP. The inhibition of Ca²⁺ release from the endoplasmic reticulum or the activity of plasma membrane Ca²⁺ influx channels decreased the severity of AP in experimental models. Similarly, inhibition of mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) opening also seems to improve the outcome of AP in in vivo animal models. At the moment MPTP blockers are under detailed clinical investigation to test whether interventions in MPTP openings and/or Ca²⁺ homeostasis of the cells can be specific targets in prevention or treatment of cell damage in AP.

This article is part of the themed issue ‘Evolution brings Ca²⁺ and ATP together to control life and death’.