Alveolar epithelium and Na,K-ATPase in acute lung injury.
Active transport of sodium across the alveolar epithelium, undertaken in part by the Na,K-adenosine triphosphatase (Na,K-ATPase), is critical for clearance of pulmonary edema fluid and thus the outcome of patients with acute lung injury. Acute lung injury results in disruption of the alveolar epithelial barrier and leads to impaired clearance of edema fluid and altered Na,K-ATPase function. There has been significant progress in the understanding of mechanisms regulating alveolar edema clearance and signaling pathways modulating Na,K-ATPase function during lung injury. The accompanying review by Morty et al. focuses on intact organ and animal models as well as clinical studies assessing alveolar fluid reabsorption in alveolar epithelial injury. Elucidation of the mechanisms underlying regulation of active Na+ transport, as well as the pathways by which the Na,K-ATPase regulates epithelial barrier function and edema clearance, are of significance to identify interventional targets to improve outcomes of patients with acute lung injury.
Vadász
István
I
Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 240 E. Huron Street, McGaw 2300, 60611, Chicago, IL, USA.
Raviv
Stacy
S
Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 240 E. Huron Street, McGaw 2300, 60611, Chicago, IL, USA.
Sznajder
Jacob I
JI
Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 240 E. Huron Street, McGaw 2300, 60611, Chicago, IL, USA. j-sznajder@northwestern.edu.
D000818:Animals; D004848:Epithelium / Q000201:enzymology; D015633:Extravascular Lung Water / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000201:enzymology*; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000378:metabolism; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase / Q000378:metabolism*
D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase