OEsophageal Ion Transport Mechanisms and Significance Under Pathological Conditions

Eszter Becskeházi; Marietta Margaréta Korsós; Bálint Erőss; Péter Hegyi; Viktória Venglovecz

doi:10.3389/fphys.2020.00855

OEsophageal Ion Transport Mechanisms and Significance Under Pathological Conditions

Front Physiol. 2020 Jul 16:11:855. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2020.00855. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Eszter Becskeházi¹, Marietta Margaréta Korsós¹, Bálint Erőss², Péter Hegyi^{2

3

4}, Viktória Venglovecz¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary.
² Institute for Translational Medicine, Szentágothai Research Centre, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.
³ Division of Gastroenterology, First Department of Medicine, Medical School, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.
⁴ First Department of Medicine, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary.

Abstract

Ion transporters play an important role in several physiological functions, such as cell volume regulation, pH homeostasis and secretion. In the oesophagus, ion transport proteins are part of the epithelial resistance, a mechanism which protects the oesophagus against reflux-induced damage. A change in the function or expression of ion transporters has significance in the development or neoplastic progression of Barrett's oesophagus (BO). In this review, we discuss the physiological and pathophysiological roles of ion transporters in the oesophagus, highlighting transport proteins which serve as therapeutic targets or prognostic markers in eosinophilic oesophagitis, BO and esophageal cancer. We believe that this review highlights important relationships which might contribute to a better understanding of the pathomechanisms of esophageal diseases.

Keywords: Barrett oesophagus; eosinophilic oesophagus; ion transport; oesophageal cancer; oesophagus.

Publication types

Review