Department of Physiology, The Center for Excellence in Cardiovascular-Renal Research, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi 39216.
Curr Top Membr. 2007;59:127-53. doi: 10.1016/S1063-5823(06)59006-4. Epub 2007 Apr 17.
Mechanotransduction influences many aspects of biological function. In the cardiovascular system, mechanotransduction has a significant impact on vascular function. Multiple signal transduction pathways participate in the transmission of biomechanical forces into cellular signals, including integrins, adhesion molecules, cytoskeleton, and activation of membrane-bound transporters and ion channels. This chapter discusses the potential role of a novel family of ion channels with evolutionarily conserved involvement in mechanotransduction, the degenerin/epithelial Na(+) channel (DEG/ENaC) family. Members of the family are identified in a diverse range of species and tissue types. Most members of the DEG/ENaC family form cation selective ion channels, some of which are believed to form mechanically gated ion channels. While most research has focused on degenerins in sensory neuron mechanotransduction, emerging evidence suggests ENaC proteins may also participate in vascular-smooth-muscle mechanotransduction. The chapter describes the potential role and physiological importance of ENaC proteins as mechanosensors in vascular smooth muscle.
机械转导影响着许多生物学功能。在心血管系统中，机械转导对血管功能有重大影响。多种信号转导途径参与将生物力学力传递为细胞信号，包括整合素、黏附分子、细胞骨架以及膜结合转运蛋白和离子通道的激活。本章讨论了一个新型离子通道家族在机械转导中的潜在作用，该家族是进化上保守的离子通道家族，即退行/上皮钠通道（DEG/ENaC）家族。该家族的成员在多种物种和组织类型中被识别。DEG/ENaC 家族的大多数成员形成阳离子选择性离子通道，其中一些被认为形成机械门控离子通道。尽管大多数研究都集中在感觉神经元机械转导中的退行基因上，但新出现的证据表明 ENaC 蛋白也可能参与血管平滑肌的机械转导。本章描述了 ENaC 蛋白作为血管平滑肌机械感受器的潜在作用和生理重要性。
