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Cell biology of the intercalated cell in the kidney
Author(s) -
Al-Awqati Qais
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/j.febslet.2013.05.007
Subject(s) - secretion , intercalated cell , microbiology and biotechnology , cell , cell type , kidney , extracellular matrix , biology , extracellular , tubule , biochemistry , chemistry , endocrinology
The intercalated cell of the collecting tubule of the mammalian kidney is specialized for the transport of H + and HCO 3 . They exist in two forms; one specialized for acid secretion and the other secretes HCO 3 into the urine. We discovered many years ago that feeding animals an acid diet converts the HCO 3 secreting form to an acid secreting type. Here I discuss the molecular basis of this transformation. The conversion of the cell types is mediated by an extracellular matrix protein hensin (also known as DMBT1). However much remains to be identified in the differentiation of these cells.