objective(s): activation of acid-sensing ion channel 1a (asic1a) is responsible for tissue injury caused by acidosis in nervous systems. but its physiological and pathological roles in nucleus pulposus cells (npcs) are unclear. the aim of this study is to investigate whether asic1a regulates the survival of npcs in the acidic environment of degenerated discs. materials and methods: npcs were is...

PURPOSE We examined the possible role of H(+) activated acid-sensing ion channels in pain perception. We characterized expression in bladder dome biopsies from patients with bladder pain syndrome and controls, in cultured human urothelium and in urothelial TEU-2 cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS Cold cut biopsies from the bladder dome were obtained in 8 asymptomatic controls and 28 patients with b...

Although acid-sensitive ion channels (ASICs) play an important role in brain functions, the exact mechanism of their physiological activation remain unclear. A possible answer to the intriguing question is that some presently unknown endogenous ligand(s) positively modulate ASICs and enhance their responses to physiologically significant level. In the present work we found that histamine select...