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Updated: May 21, 2026
07:23
Using a Whole-mount Immunohistochemical Method to Study the Innervation of the Biliary Tract in Suncus murinus
Published on: June 15, 2017
BASIC--a bile acid-sensitive ion channel highly expressed in bile ducts
Dominik Wiemuth1, Hacer Sahin, Björn H Falkenburger
1Department of Physiology, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany. dwiemuth@ukaachen.de
Summary
The brain liver intestine Na+ channel (BLINaC) is found in bile duct cells and is activated by bile acids. Researchers propose renaming it the bile acid-sensitive ion channel (BASIC).
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
- Physiology
Background:
- The brain liver intestine Na+ channel (BLINaC), part of the DEG/ENaC gene family, has an unclear function.
- BLINaC in rats (rBLINaC) and humans (INaC) is inactive at rest, and its activation mechanism is unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the function and activation mechanism of BLINaC.
- To determine the cellular localization and physiological activators of BLINaC.
Main Methods:
- Immunolocalization studies to identify BLINaC protein location.
- Functional assays to test BLINaC activation by bile acids.
Main Results:
- BLINaC protein localizes to cholangiocytes, the epithelial cells lining bile ducts.
- rBLINaC and INaC are significantly activated by bile acids, including chenodeoxycholic acid and hyodeoxycholic acid, at physiological concentrations (EC50=2.1±0.05 mM).
Conclusions:
- BLINaC functions as a bile acid-sensitive epithelial cation channel in bile ducts.
- Given its homology to ASICs and activation by bile acids, BLINaC is proposed to be renamed the bile acid-sensitive ion channel (BASIC).
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