Click here to close Hello! We notice that you are using Internet Explorer, which is not supported by Xenbase and may cause the site to display incorrectly. We suggest using a current version of Chrome, FireFox, or Safari.
XB-ART-53335
Sci Transl Med 2015 Nov 04;7312:312ra177. doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aad0286.
Show Gene links Show Anatomy links

Sodium channel Nax is a regulator in epithelial sodium homeostasis.

Xu W , Hong SJ , Zhong A , Xie P , Jia S , Xie Z , Zeitchek M , Niknam-Bienia S , Zhao J , Porterfield DM , Surmeier DJ , Leung KP , Galiano RD , Mustoe TA .


???displayArticle.abstract???
The mechanisms by which the epidermis responds to disturbances in barrier function and restores homeostasis are unknown. With a perturbation of the epidermal barrier, water is lost, resulting in an increase in extracellular sodium concentration. We demonstrate that the sodium channel Nax functions as a sodium sensor. With increased extracellular sodium, Nax up-regulates prostasin, which results in activation of the sodium channel ENaC, resulting in increased sodium flux and increased downstream mRNA synthesis of inflammatory mediators. Nax is present in multiple epithelial tissues, and up-regulation of its downstream genes is found in hypertrophic scars. In animal models, blocking Nax expression results in improvement in scarring and atopic dermatitis-like symptoms, both of which are pathological conditions characterized by perturbations in barrier function. These findings support an important role for Nax in maintaining epithelial homeostasis.

???displayArticle.pubmedLink??? 26537257
???displayArticle.link??? Sci Transl Med


Species referenced: Xenopus laevis
Genes referenced: prss8 prss8l.1

References :
Marunaka, Na(+) homeostasis by epithelial Na(+) channel (ENaC) and Nax channel (Nax): cooperation of ENaC and Nax. 2016, Pubmed