The Role of Na,K-ATPase in Human Health: From Structure to Function

Dear Colleagues,

Sixty-five years have passed since Jens Skou discovered Na,K-ATPase, but this amazing enzyme is still the object of the close attention of many researchers. Na,K-ATPase provides the active transport of Na⁺ and K⁺ across the plasma membrane of animal cells, and plays an essential role in the Na⁺-gradient-facilitated transport of other ions and biologically important molecules, such as amino acids, neurotransmitters and nucleotides. In addition, it has been shown that side-by-side with canonical Na⁺_i/K⁺_i-dependent cellular responses, Na,K-ATPase is a signal transducer that can receive signals from various endogenous cardiotonic steroids and trigger different and branched signals through protein–protein interactions that affect transcription, translation, tight junction, cell adhesion and exhibit tissue-specific impact on cell survival and death. The transport and receptor functions of the enzyme are sensitive to oxygen concentrations and the redox status of the cell, and one of the key determinants of the enzyme’s redox sensitivity is S-glutathionylation of the Na,K-ATPase subunits. Dysregulation of Na,K-ATPase functioning has an important impact on numerous human pathological conditions including cancer; chronic kidney disease; preeclampsia; and cardiovascular, metabolic and neurological disorders. Na,K-ATPase is also of great interest in viral biology because it is a prominent therapeutic target in a broad spectrum of viral infections. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of Na,K-ATPase dysfunction in pathologies will allow us to propose new methods for the prevention or correction of these diseases in the future. This Special Issue welcomes original articles and reviews on the role of Na,K-ATPase in the pathogenesis of various human disorders and the molecular mechanisms underlying Na,K-ATPase dysfunction.

Dr. Elizaveta Klimanova
Prof. Dr. Olga Lopina
Dr. Irina Petrushanko
Guest Editors

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