Diversity of Cl− Channels

Cl− channels are widely found anion pores that are regulated by a variety of signals and that play various roles. On the basis of molecular biologic findings, ligand-gated Cl− channels in synapses, cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductors (CFTRs) and ClC channel types have been established, followed by bestrophin and possibly by tweety, which encode Ca2+-activated Cl− channels. The ClC family has been shown to possess a variety of functions, including stabilization of membrane potential, excitation, cellvolume regulation, fluid transport, protein degradation in endosomal vesicles and possibly cell growth. The molecular structure of Cl− channel types varies from 1 to 12 transmembrane segments. By means of computer-based prediction, functional Cl− channels have been synthesized artificially, revealing that many possible ion pores are hidden in channel, transporter or unidentified hydrophobic membrane proteins. Thus, novel Cl−-conducting pores may be occasionally discovered, and evidence from molecular biologic studies will clarify their physiologic and pathophysiologic roles

The ethical issues regarding consent to clinical trials with pre-term or sick neonates: a systematic review (framework synthesis) of the empirical research

Background: Conducting clinical trials with pre-term or sick infants is important if care for this population is to be underpinned by sound evidence. Yet approaching parents at this difficult time raises challenges for the obtaining of valid informed consent to such research. This study asked: what light does the empirical literature cast on an ethically defensible approach to the obtaining of informed consent in perinatal clinical trials? Methods: A systematic search identified 49 studies. Analysis began by applying philosophical frameworks which were then refined in light of the concepts emerging from empirical studies to present a coherent picture of a broad literature. Results: Between them, studies addressed the attitudes of both parents and clinicians concerning consent in neonatal trials; the validity of the consent process in the neonatal research context; and different possible methods of obtaining consent. Conclusions: Despite a variety of opinions among parents and clinicians there is a strongly and widely held view that it is important that parents do give or decline consent for neonatal participation in trials. However, none of the range of existing consent processes reviewed by the research is satisfactory. A significant gap is evaluation of the widespread practice of emergency ‘assent’, in which parents assent or refuse their baby’s participation as best they can during the emergency and later give full consent to ongoing participation and follow-up. Emergency assent has not been evaluated for its acceptability, how such a process would deal with bad outcomes such as neonatal death between assent and consent, or the extent to which late parental refusal might bias results. This review of a large number of empirical papers, while not making fundamental changes, has refined and developed the conceptual framework from philosophy for examining informed consent in this context

LSm4 Associates with the Plasma Membrane and Acts as a Co-factor in Cell Volume Regulation

ICln is a ubiquitous, multifunctional protein with functions in cell volume regulation and RNA processing, and is thus part of an intricate protein network critically involved in the homoeostasis of cells. To better understand this vital protein network in health and disease it is fundamental to characterize the interactions between the physiological pathways in which ICln is involved, as well as the spatio-temporal regulation of these interactions. In this study, we focused on the interaction between the two best studied pathways in which ICln is involved - regulatory volume decrease and RNA processing - and asked, whether or not the RNA processing factor and ICln interaction partner LSm4 may also have a function in cell volume regulation in NIH3T3 fibroblasts or HEK293 Phoenix cells. To address this question, we studied in isotonic and hypotonic conditions by FRET, biochemistry and electrophysiology, the intracellular distribution of the RNA processing factor LSm4, its interaction with ICln, as well as the involvement of LSm4 in the activation of the swelling dependent anion and osmolyte channel IClswell. In isotonic conditions, LSm4 associates with ICln, and the plasma membrane. Hypotonic cell swelling leads to the dissociation of LSm4 from the plasma membrane, and from ICln. Over-expression of LSm4 affects the translocation of ICln to the cell membrane and markedly inhibits the activation kinetics and current density of IClswell. These findings indicate that LSm4 not only acts in RNA processing, but also as a co-factor in cell volume regulation