Enigmatic Roles of the Epithelial Sodium Channel (ENaC) in Articular Chondrocytes and Osteoblasts: Mechanotransduction, Sodium Transport or Extracellular Sodium Sensing?

Review
In: Mechanosensitivity in Cells and Tissues. Moscow: Academia; 2005.

Excerpt

The mammalian MEC/DEG/ENaC gene superfamily encodes membrane proteins which are involved in diverse functions including acid sensing, maintenance of sodium homeostasis and transduction of mechanical stimuli and nociceptive pain. In the principal cells of the distal nephron amiloride sensitive ENaC activity represents the rate-limiting step for sodium reabsorption. Epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) subunits have also been found in articular chondrocytes and osteoblasts. In this article we discuss the enigmatic roles of ENaC in skeletal cells including articular chondrocytes and osteoblasts and review recent papers in which ENaC has been proposed to participate in skeletal mechanotransduction, sodium transport and extracellular sodium sensing.

Publication types

  • Review