title: The Epithelial Sodium Channel and the Processes of Wound Healing.
abstract: The epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) mediates passive sodium transport across the apical membranes of sodium absorbing epithelia, like the distal nephron, the intestine, and the lung airways. Additionally, the channel has been involved in the transduction of mechanical stimuli, such as hydrostatic pressure, membrane stretch, and shear stress from fluid flow. Thus, in vascular endothelium, it participates in the control of the vascular tone via its activity both as a sodium channel and as a shear stress transducer. Rather recently, ENaC has been shown to participate in the processes of wound healing, a role that may also involve its activities as sodium transporter and as mechanotransducer. Its presence as the sole channel mediating sodium transport in many tissues and the diversity of its functions probably underlie the complexity of its regulation. This brief review describes some aspects of ENaC regulation, comments on evidence about ENaC participation in wound healing, and suggests possible regulatory mechanisms involved in this participation.
authors: Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Gral. Flores 2125, 11800 Montevideo, Uruguay.
authors: Silvia
authors: 0000-0003-4935-8591
authors: S
authors: Chifflet
authors: Sección Biofísica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Iguá 4225 esq. Mataojo, 11400 Montevideo, Uruguay.
authors: Julio A
authors: 0000-0002-5366-1553
authors: JA
authors: Hernandez
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport / Q000502:physiology; D006390:Hemangioendothelioma / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism; D015222:Sodium Channels / Q000378:metabolism*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D015222:Sodium Channels; D012964:Sodium