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ENaC/ASIC Proteins as Cardiovascular Sensors
Ion Channels and Transporters Tracks

Epithelial Na+ Channel (ENaC) proteins are well known for their role in Na+ reabsorption in epithelial tissues.  However, in recent years, emerging evidence suggests ENaC proteins, are not limited to transport salt and water across epithelia.  ENaC proteins, and their closely related family members, Acid Sensing Ion Channel proteins (ASICs), participate in diverse environmental sensing in a broad range of cell types (epithelial, vascular smooth muscle, sensory neurons, glia) and organ systems including the nervous system, cardiovascular system, gastro-intestinal and skeletal muscle systems, with major physiological and pathophysiogical implications.  Members of this family are required for pain and touch sensation, taste, arterial baroreception and chemoreception, cellular migration, and cardiovascular regulation with exercise through mechano- and chemo-sensing mechanisms.

This symposium will highlight emerging studies on the role of ENaC/ASIC proteins as environmental sensors. Presenters in the symposia will focus on young investigators, particularly senior post-doctoral fellows and junior faculty members. The tentative list of speakers include Dr. Marcelo Carattino from Tom Kleyman’s Laboratory will discuss the role of ENaCs as shear stress receptors in renal epithelium.   Zhiyong Tan, a senior fellow from the laboratories of Dr. Mark Chapleau and Dr. Francois Abboud will discuss the role of ASICs involved in acid-sensing by carotid body chemoreceptors.  A junior faculty member from Dr. Marc Kaufmann’s laboratory, Dr. Shawn Hayes, will discuss the role of ENaC/ASIC proteins as chemosensors in exercise induced cardiovascular control.  Finally, Dr. Samira Grifoni from the Chair’s Laboratory will discuss the role of vascular smooth muscle ENaCs in the control of renal blood flow and pressure-induced renal injury.  The symposia is necessary because the dogma that ENaC proteins are just Na+ transporters in epithelial tissue has limited the growth and development of this exciting and important research area.  The symposia will attract researchers with diverse backgrounds and expertise will encourage research on the importance of ENaC/ASIC proteins in environmental sensing and its impact on integrative physiology.