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Published on: February 8, 2011
Pathology and physiology of acid‑sensitive ion channels in the digestive system (Review)
Li Zhang1, Liming Zheng1, Xingyue Yang1
1Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou 563003, P.R. China.
Abstract:
As a major proton‑gated cation channel, acid‑sensitive ion channels (ASICs) can perceive large extracellular pH changes. ASICs play an important role in the occurrence and development of diseases of various organs and tissues including in the heart, brain, and gastrointestinal tract, as well as in tumor proliferation, invasion, and metastasis in acidosis and regulation of an acidic microenvironment. The permeability of ASICs to sodium and calcium ions is the basis of their physiological and pathological roles in the body. This review summarizes the physiological and pathological mechanisms of ASICs in digestive system diseases, which plays an important role in the early diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of digestive system diseases related to ASIC expression.
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