Evidence for intestinal chloride secretion.
Intestinal fluid secretion is pivotal in the creation of an ideal environment for effective enzymatic digestion, nutrient absorption and stool movement. Since fluid cannot be actively secreted into the gut, this process is dependent on an osmotic gradient, which is mainly created by chloride transport by the enterocyte. A pathological dysbalance between fluid secretion and absorption leads to obstruction or potentially fatal diarrhoea. This article reviews the widely accepted model of intestinal chloride secretion with an emphasis on the molecular players involved in this tightly regulated process.
Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA.
Michael
M
Murek
Sascha
S
Kopic
John
J
Geibel
D000818:Animals; D000090007:CLC-2 Chloride Channels; D018118:Chloride Channels / Q000502:physiology; D002712:Chlorides / Q000378:metabolism*; D019005:Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator / Q000502:physiology; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000503:physiopathology; D020895:Enterocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism*; D007419:Intestinal Secretions; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000502:physiology; D028021:Sodium-Potassium-Chloride Symporters / Q000502:physiology; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase / Q000502:physiology; D019108:Tight Junctions / Q000502:physiology; D014882:Water-Electrolyte Balance
D000090007:CLC-2 Chloride Channels; D018118:Chloride Channels; D002712:Chlorides; D015221:Potassium Channels; D028021:Sodium-Potassium-Chloride Symporters; D019005:Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase