title: Physiology of gastric enterochromaffin-like cells.
abstract: Enterochromaffin-like (ECL) cells are neuroendocrine cells in the gastric mucosa that control acid secretion by releasing histamine as a paracrine stimulant. The antral hormone gastrin and the neural messenger pituitary adenylyl cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP) potently stimulate histamine synthesis, storage, and secretion by ECL cells. Histamine is stored in secretory vesicles via V-type ATPases and vesicular monoamine transporters of subtype 2 (VMAT-2). Plasmalemmal calcium entry occurs via L-type calcium channels upon stimulation with secretagogues. K(+) and Cl(-) channels maintain the membrane potential. Calcium-triggered exocytosis of histamine is mediated by interacting SNARE proteins, especially by synaptobrevin and SNAP-25. Dynamins and amphiphysins appear to play a key role in endocytosis. ECL cells are under transcriptional control of various hormones. Gastrin stimulates transcriptional activity of the histidine decarboxylase (HDC), VMAT-2, and chromogranin A promoter by activation of Sp1 elements and CREB. During chronic Helicobacter pylori infection, pro-inflammatory cytokines are released that can also affect ECL cells, thus impairing their secretory function and viability, which can predispose to hypochlorhydria and gastric carcinogenesis.
authors.affiliation: II. Medizinische Klinik, Technische Universität München, D-81675 München, Germany. Christian.Prinz@lrz.tum.de
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Prinz
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zanner
authors.forename: Manfred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gratzl
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019861:Enterochromaffin-like Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D013270:Stomach / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*