Calpains are a family of nonlysosomal cysteine proteases, which play important roles in numerous physiological and pathological processes. Locations of them dictates the functions so that they are classified as ubiquitously expressed calpains and tissue-specific calpains. Recent studies are mainly focused on conventional calpains (calpain-1,2) in development and diseases, and increasing people pay attention to other subtypes of calpains but may not been summarized appropriately. Growing evidence suggests that calpains are also involved in immune regulation. However, seldom articles review the regulation of calpains on immune cells. The aim of this article is to review the research progress of each calpain isozyme and the effect of calpains on immune cells, especially the promotion effect of calpains on the immune response of macrophage, neutrophils, dendritic cells, mast cells, natural killed cells, and lymphocytes. These effects would hold great promise for the clinical application of calpains as a practicable therapeutic option in the treatment of immune related diseases.

钙蛋白酶是一个非溶酶体半胱氨酸蛋白酶家族，在许多生理和病理过程中发挥重要作用。它们的位置决定了功能，因此它们被归类为普遍表达的钙蛋白酶和组织特异性钙蛋白酶。最近的研究主要集中在常规钙蛋白酶（calpain-1,2）在发育和疾病方面，越来越多的人关注其他亚型的钙蛋白酶，但可能没有得到适当的总结。越来越多的证据表明钙蛋白酶也参与免疫调节。然而，很少有文章回顾钙蛋白酶对免疫细胞的调节。本文旨在综述各钙蛋白酶同工酶的研究进展及钙蛋白酶对免疫细胞的作用，特别是钙蛋白酶对巨噬细胞免疫反应的促进作用，中性粒细胞、树突细胞、肥大细胞、自然杀伤细胞和淋巴细胞。这些作用对于钙蛋白酶作为治疗免疫相关疾病的可行治疗选择的临床应用具有广阔的前景。