[Epithelial sodium channel subunit mRNA expression in acutely isolated rat alveolar type II cells].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) subunit mRNA expression in acutely isolated rat alveolar type II (ATII) cells.


METHODS
Acutely isolated ATII cells from 20 SD rats were purified and ENaC alpha, beta, gamma-subunit mRNA levels were determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).


RESULTS
mRNA expressions of all the subunits were detected in the ATII cells, and ENaC alpha-subunit mRNA showed significantly higher expression than beta- and gamma-subunit mRNAs, and the expressions of the latter two mRNAs were comparable.


CONCLUSIONS
As the predominant ENaC subunit expressed at the mRNA level in rat ATII cells, the alpha-subunit of ENAC plays an important role in alveolar fluid clearance.
Zhou
Wang-mei
WM
Department of Emergency, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China. zhouwangmei01@163.com
He
Lin
L
Li
Tao-ping
TP
You
Jie
J
D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D053503:Epithelial Sodium Channels / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D053503:Epithelial Sodium Channels; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C440894:Scnn1a protein, rat