The Epithelial Sodium Channel (ENaC): Regulation in the Glucocorticoid Therapy of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD)

Abstract The amiloride-sensitive epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) plays a key role in colonic electrogenic Na+ absorption. In patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), impaired electrogenic Na+ absorption is a major factor in the pathogenesis of diarrhea. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α suppresses transcriptional induction of the ENaC and inhibit Na+ absorption in the colon. In IBD therapy, glucocorticoids (GCs) were shown to rapidly enhance Na+ and water absorption. Our aim was to evaluate the interaction of TNF-α and glucocorticoids with regard to ENaC induction and regulation. GC not only obviated TNF-α-m…