Regulation of ion transport by oxidants
AJP Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology
Published online on September 06, 2013
Abstract
Ion channels perform a variety of cellular functions in lung epithelia. Oxidant- and antioxidant-mediated mechanisms (that is--redox regulation) of ion channels are areas of intense research. Significant progress has been made in our understanding of redox regulation of ion channels since the last Experimental Biology report in 2003. Advancements include: 1) identification of non-phagocytic NADPH oxidases as sources of regulated reactive species (RS) production in epithelia, 2) an understanding that excessive treatment with antioxidants can result in greater oxidative stress, and 3) characterization of novel RS signaling pathways that converge upon ion channel regulation. These advancements, as discussed at the 2013 Experimental Biology Meeting in Boston, MA, impact our understanding of oxidative stress in the lung, and in particular, illustrate that the redox state has profound effects on ion channel and cellular function.