pH Physiology: more news of its role in immune function and cancer
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In a past newsletter, I reviewed the effects of acid-base balance on the functions of immune cells, inflammation and cancer survival and detection.
Acid - base balance in immune system function
This newsletter continues with topics of biophysics, and reminiscences of my early lab life researching pH cytosolic changes induced in molluscan neurons by voltage dependent calcium currents. [We used indicator dyes and microelectrodes. I did all this as a premed; by the time I hit med school I could easily calculate dialysis solutions in my head…].
Topics included:
Inflammatory state eased with alkalinization, bicarbonate ingestion
Extracellular acid inhibits immune cells
pH indicator dyes diagnose cancer cells
Acidic environs switch on genes for metastasis
Cancer cells need a place to dump their acid
Acid intracellular environs launches killer agent
Also included, were some basics on how ions are transported across cell membranes, including the proton.
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