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Regulation of bradykinin‐induced activation of volume‐sensitive outwardly rectifying anion channels by Ca 2+ nanodomains in mouse astrocytes
Author(s) -
Akita Tenpei,
Okada Yasunobu
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
the journal of physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.802
H-Index - 240
eISSN - 1469-7793
pISSN - 0022-3751
DOI - 10.1113/jphysiol.2011.208173
Subject(s) - bradykinin , microbiology and biotechnology , chemistry , ion channel , biophysics , intracellular , astrocyte , cell , neuroscience , biochemistry , biology , central nervous system , receptor
Non‐technical summary Cell volume regulation is an essential function involved not only in homeostasis, but also in cell migration, fission and programmed cell death. The volume‐sensitive outwardly rectifying (VSOR) anion channel provides the main pathway for anion transport across the cell membrane during the regulation. We previously demonstrated that an inflammatory mediator, bradykinin, activates the VSOR channels in the major glial cells, astrocytes, in the brain derived from mice and the channels send signals to adjacent neurons through the release of glutamate. Here we demonstrate that this activation is controlled in the immediate vicinity of Ca 2+ ‐permeable channel proteins in the astrocytes via high concentrations of intracellular Ca 2+ , so‐called ‘Ca 2+ nanodomains’. This mechanism would provide a basis for responding quickly and certainly to even a minute amount of bradykinin released from surrounding tissues (e.g. slightly damaged blood vessel walls) with local control of cell shape changes and signal transmission by astrocytes.