Physiology and pathophysiology of the renal Na-K-2Cl cotransporter (NKCC2)

The Na-K-2Cl cotransporter (NKCC2; BSC1) is located in the apical membrane of the epithelial cells of the thick ascending limb of the loop of Henle (TAL). NKCC2 facilitates ∼20-25% of the reuptake of the total filtered NaCl load. NKCC2 is therefore one of the transport proteins with the highest overall reabsorptive capacity in the kidney. Consequently, even subtle changes in NKCC2 transport activity considerably alter the renal reabsorptive...