Abstract
Ion transporters play an important role in several physiological functions, such as cell volume regulation, pH homeostasis and secretion. In the oesophagus, ion transport proteins are part of the epithelial resistance, a mechanism which protects the oesophagus against reflux-induced damage. A change in the function or expression of ion transporters has significance in the development or neoplastic progression of Barrett’s oesophagus (BO). In this review, we discuss the physiological and pathophysiological roles of ion transporters in the oesophagus, highlighting transport proteins which serve as therapeutic targets or prognostic markers in eosinophilic oesophagitis, BO and esophageal cancer. We believe that this review highlights important relationships which might contribute to a better understanding of the pathomechanisms of esophageal diseases.
Highlights
Ion and water transport play a crucial role in the development of gastrointestinal (GI) diseases, such as cystic fibrosis or diarrhea
Cl− efflux through anoctamin 1 (ANO1) likely plays a role in intracellular Cl− depletion, which is a prerequisite for cell division. These results indicate that both NHE3 and ANO1 are part of the Interleukin 13 (IL-13)-mediated transcriptional cascade, which leads to the histopathological features of EoE
Similar results have been found in human oesophageal cell lines, in which the cytoprotective effect of epidermal growth factor against acid-induced cell damage is mediated by NHE1 through the Ca2+/calmodulin and protein kinase C (PKC) pathway (Fujiwara et al, 2005)
Summary
Ion and water transport play a crucial role in the development of gastrointestinal (GI) diseases, such as cystic fibrosis or diarrhea. Using isolated rabbit OE, they showed the presence of Cl− conductance at both the basolateral and the apical membrane of oesophageal epithelial cells (OECs) (Abdulnour-Nakhoul et al, 2002). Voltage-dependent K+ channels are usually expressed on the basolateral membrane, where they determine the membrane potential of the cell, provide an electrochemical driving force for the transport of other ions, such as Na+ or Cl− and play a role in the recycling of K+ or the regulation of cell volume (Cotton, 2000).
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