title: Intracellular Ca2+ and Cl- channel activation in secretory cells.
abstract: Molecular and functional evidence indicates that a variety of Ca(2+)-dependent chloride (Cl(Ca)) channels are involved in fluid secretion from secretory epithelial cells in different tissues and species. Most Cl(Ca) channels so far characterized have an I- permeability greater than Cl-, and most are sensitive to 4,4'-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (DIDS). Whole-cell Cl(Ca) currents show outward rectification. Single-channel current voltage relationships are linear with conductances ranging from 2 to 30 pS. Some Cl(Ca) channels are blocked by Ca(2+)-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CAMKII) inhibitors. Others, such as the Cl(Ca) channels of parotid and submandibular acinar cells, appear to be directly regulated by Ca2+. In native cells, the Cl(Ca) channels are located on the apical plasma membrane and activated by localized mechanisms of Ca2+ release. This positioning allows the Cl(Ca) channel to respond specifically to localized Ca2+ signals that do not invade other regions of the cell. The Cl(Ca) follows the rising phase of the Ca2+ signal, but in the falling phase hysteresis occurs where the Cl(Ca) current decays more rapidly than the underlying Ca2+. The future elucidation of the identity and mechanisms of regulation of Cl(Ca) channels will be critical to our understanding of stimulus-secretion coupling.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Kidd
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Thorn
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000378:metabolism*; D018118:Chloride Channels / Q000378:metabolism*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015220:Calcium Channels; D018118:Chloride Channels