Membrane trauma and Na+ leak from Nav1.6 channels.

During brain trauma, white matter experiences shear and stretch forces that, without severing axons, nevertheless trigger their secondary degeneration. In central nervous system (CNS) trauma models, voltage-gated sodium channel (Nav) blockers are neuroprotective. This, plus the rapid tetrodotoxin-sensitive Ca2+ overload of stretch-traumatized axons, points to "leaky" Nav channels as a pivotal early lesion in brain trauma.

Cytoskeleton and motor proteins are required for the transcytosis of Neisseria gonorrhoeae through polarized epithelial cells.

Neisseria gonorrhoeae interact with polarized T84 epithelial cells by engaging carcinoembryonic antigen-related cellular adhesion molecule (CEACAM) receptors. Adherent bacteria that are taken up by the cells are able to traverse the epithelial layer from the apical to the basal side. Herein, we demonstrate that the actin cytoskeleton of the cells is not required for the initial adherence of the bacteria, however, it is essential for invasion into and traversal through T84 cells.