title: Cell volume regulation and swelling-activated chloride channels.
abstract: Maintenance of a constant volume is essential for normal cell function. Following cell swelling, as a consequence of reduction of extracellular osmolarity or increase of intracellular content of osmolytes, animal cells are able to restore their original volume by activation of potassium and chloride conductances. The loss of these ions, followed passively by water, is responsible for the homeostatic response called regulatory volume decrease (RVD). Activation of a chloride conductance upon cell swelling is a key step in RVD. Several proteins have been proposed as candidates for this chloride conductance. The status of the field is reviewed, with particular emphasis on ClC-3, a member of the ClC family which has been recently proposed as the chloride channel involved in cell volume regulation.
authors.affiliation: MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College School of Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK. a.sardini@csc.mrc.ac.uk
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sardini
authors.forename: Joanna S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Amey
authors.forename: Karsten Henrich
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Weylandt
authors.forename: Muriel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nobles
authors.forename: Miguel Angel
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Valverde
authors.forename: Christopher F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Higgins
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D048429:Cell Size / Q000502:physiology*; D018118:Chloride Channels / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D002712:Chlorides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D006801:Humans; D011188:Potassium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000378:metabolism; D014867:Water / Q000378:metabolism; D014882:Water-Electrolyte Balance
chemical_list: D018118:Chloride Channels; D002712:Chlorides; C115376:ClC-3 channel; D015221:Potassium Channels; D014867:Water; D011188:Potassium