Book Description

In the past several years, there has been an exciting body of new research that links impairments in the expression or function of neuronal chloride transporters to a growing number of diseases spanning from autism to brain aging. This book introduces the core concepts and highlights the recent advances in understanding the physiology and pathophysiology of the KCC and NKCC families of neuronal chloride transporters. Neuronal chloride transporter biology is reviewed, including roles in setting the transmembrane chloride gradient and the chloride transport-independent functions, such as regulating excitatory neurotransmission. Chapters are also dedicated to addressing the structure, post-translational modification, membrane trafficking, and protein interaction partners of neuronal chloride transporters, as well as the genetic and environmental factors that regulate their expression in neurons and the novel therapeutic approaches that target neuronal chloride transporters to treat neurological diseases. This new volume will provide readers with an up-to-date summary of the recent advances in neuronal chloride transporter research, with particular emphasis on some of the key emerging topics in the field. - Summarizes roles of KCCs and NKCCs in regulating inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmission - Reviews the molecular and cellular biology of neuronal chloride transporters - Links neuronal chloride transporter deficiencies to autism, epilepsy, depression, and more - Identifies role of transporter deficiencies in pain as well as brain and spinal cord injury - Discusses drug research targeting neuronal chloride transporters for nervous system diseases