Regulatory mechanisms of Na+ and fluid absorption across alveolar epithelium

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Effective gas exchange in the lungs requires alveolar air spaces virtually free of liquid. It has been established that liquid clearance from alveoli is mainly driven by active Na+ transport through ENaC channels, located at the apical membrane of alveolar epithelial cells. The regulatory mechanisms of ENaC as well as Na+ and fluid absorption across alveolar cells are complex and remain incompletely understood. Since 2005, our research program thus aims at better understanding the mechanisms that control alveolar Na+ and liquid absorption. During the last few years, we have made some significant progress by identifying several crucial regulatory elements of alveolar transport. Indeed, we have identified several factors including the activity of another class of ion channels, the K+ channels, controlling ENaC gene promoter activity and ENaC expression, as well as alveolar Na+ and liquid transport.