title: Ion channels in mesangial cells: function, malfunction, or fiction.
abstract: Ion channels in glomerular mesangial cells from humans, rats, and mice have been studied by electrophysiological, molecular, and gene-knockout methods. Two channels, a large, Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channel (BK) and a store-operated Ca(2+) channel (SOCC), can be defined with respect to molecular structure and function. Human BK, comprised of a pore-forming alpha-subunit and an accessory beta1-subunit, operate as Ca(2+)-sensing feedback modulators of contractile tone. SOCC have also been characterized in a mouse cell line; they are comprised of molecules belonging to the transient receptor potential subfamily.
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrative Physiology, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Pluznick
authors.forename: Steven C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Sansom
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005920:Glomerular Mesangium / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D007473:Ion Channels