Conditions Associated with Type 3 Chlorine Channels (ClC-3)

Abstract

Conditions Associated with ABSTRACT Until a few decades ago, chloride anion channels (Cl-) received little attention in comparison to cationic channels. Nowadays it is known that the chloride ion is the most abundant inside the body and it has been implied in important biological processes, such as: cell volume regulation, transepithelial fluid transport, muscle contraction and neuroexcitation. Furthermore, within the cell, it participates in endosomal, lysosomal and Golgi acidification. Particularly, voltage-gated Cl- channels-3 (ClC-3) mediate extra and intracellular ionic homeostasis and acidification of intracellular compartments. ClC-3 are expressed in most tissues, including brain, retina, pancreas, intestines, epididymis, kidney, liver, skeletal muscle, and heart, so their participation in diseases such as gastric cancer, cervical cancer, endometriosis, osteoporosis and cardiac hypertrophy has been studied.