Regulatory mechanism underlying cyclic changes in mouse uterine bicarbonate secretion: role of estrogen.

Our previous study has demonstrated that bicarbonate in the uterine fluid plays an indispensable role in sperm capacitation. However, the cellular mechanisms underlying the formation of bicarbonate-rich uterine fluid and the regulatory mechanism remained largely unknown. In this study, the expression profiles of bicarbonate transport/production proteins, the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), SLC26A6, carbonic anhydrase 2 (CAR2, CA2) and CAR12 (CA12), throughout the estrous cycle, were examined in the mouse uterus by western blot.

CFTR is required for cellular entry and internalization of Chlamydia trachomatis.

Chlamydia trachomatis is an obligate intracellular Gram-negative pathogen affecting over 600 million people worldwide with 92 million new cases occurring globally each year. C. trachomatis enter the cells and replicate to infect different tissues/organs, giving rise to a spectrum of pathological conditions; however, the exact mechanism or receptor(s) for their entry is not well understood.

Involvement of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) in the pathogenesis of hydrosalpinx induced by Chlamydia trachomatis infection.

Background: Genital Chlamydia (C) trachomatis infection has been recognized as the single most common cause of pelvic inflammatory disease leading to severe tubal damage, ectopic pregnancy, infertility and hydrosalpinx. However, the mechanism underlying the formation of hydrosalpinx induced by C. trachomatis infection remains largely unknown.

Involvement of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator in infection-induced edema.

Abnormal fluid accumulation in tissues, including the life-threatening cerebral and pulmonary edema, is a severe consequence of bacteria infection. Chlamydia (C.) trachomatis is an obligate intracellular gram-negative human pathogen responsible for a spectrum of diseases, causing tissue fluid accumulation and edema in various organs.

Effect of sodium ferulate on human colonic anion secretion and the underlying signaling mechanism.

The present study investigated the effect of ferulic acid, a compound purified from traditional Chinese herbal medicine Chuanxiong and Awei, on anion secretion by human colonic cells (T84) using the short circuit current (I(SC)) and microspectrofluorimetric technique. Basolateral administration of sodium ferulate (SF) produced a concentration-dependent increase of I(SC) in T84 cells with an EC50 of 1.2 mM.

Estrogen-induced abnormally high cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator expression results in ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.

Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) remains one of the most life-threatening and potentially fatal complications of assisted reproduction treatments, arising from excessive stimulation of the ovaries by exogenous gonadotropins administrated during in vitro fertilization procedures, which is characterized by massive fluid shift and accumulation in the peritoneal cavity and other organs, including the lungs and the reproductive tract. The pathogenesis of OHSS remains obscure, and no definitive treatments are currently available. Using RT-PCR, Western blot, and electrophysiological techniques we show that cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), a cAMP-activated chloride channel expressed in many epithelia, is involved in the pathogenesis of OHSS.

Plasticity of rat bone marrow-derived 5-hydroxytryptamine-sensitive neurons: dedifferentiation and redifferentiation.

Inducing cellular dedifferentiation has been proposed as a potential method for enhancing endogenous regeneration in mammals. Here we demonstrate that phenotypic and functional neurons derived from adult rat bone marrow stromal stem cells (MSCs) can be induced to undergo dedifferentiation, then proliferation and redifferentiation. In addition to morphological changes and expression of neuronal markers, neuron-specific enolase and neurofilament H, functional differentiation was monitored by intracellular Ca2+ mobilization in response to a ubiquitous neurotransmitter, 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) at different stages.

Stimulation of Cl- secretion via membrane-restricted Ca2+ signaling mediated by P2Y receptors in polarized epithelia.

Extracellular nucleotides such as ATP have been shown to regulate ion transport processes in a variety of epithelia. This effect is mediated by the activation of plasma membrane P2Y receptors, which leads to Ca(2+) signaling cascade. Ion transport processes (e.