Role of chloride/bicarbonate antiport in the control of cytosolic pH. Cell-line differences in activity and regulation of antiport

Evidence for involvement of protein kinase C in regulation of intracellular pH by Cl-/HCO-3 antiport

The activity of the main base-extruding mechanism in Vero cells, the Na(+)-independent Cl-/HCO-3 antiport, increases 5- to 10-fold when the cytosolic pH (pHi) is increased over a narrow range close to neutrality. We have studied the effect on this regulation of stimulation and inhibition of protein kinase C by short-term and long-term treatment with the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA). After short-term treatment with TPA to stimulate the kinase, the threshold value for activation of the antiport is shifted to a more acidic pH. After prolonged treatment with TPA to downregulate protein kinase C the sensitivity of the antiport to variation in proton concentration was lowered, possibly by reducing the number of essential proton-binding sites. Concomitantly, the steady state pHi of the cells was increased. The data indicate that protein kinase C is involved in the regulation of the Na(+)-independent Cl-/HCO-3 antiport.

Na+/H+ exchange is responsible for intracellular pH regulation in insulin-secreting HIT-T15 cells

The addition of glucose to suspensions of HIT-T15 insulinoma cells caused a small, transient acidification followed by a gradual, progressive alkalinisation, as assessed by the fluorescent pH-sensitive dye 2',7'-biscarboxyethyl-5'-(6')-carboxyfluorescein (BCECF). Treatment of cells with acetate or lactate produced an immediate, marked acidification followed by recovery and a subsequent alkalinisation. In contrast, addition of NH4Cl caused a rapid rise in intracellular pH (pHi) and recovery to resting values. In cells where Na+/H+ exchange was inhibited, either with amiloride or by omission of Na+ from the medium, glucose caused a progressive acidification, whilst recovery from acetate- or lactate-induced acidification was prevented. Under sodium-free conditions, recovery from acidification could be initiated by addition of Na+. Inhibition of HCO3-/Cl- exchange by pretreatment with 4,4'-diisothiocyanatostilbene 2,2'-disulphonic acid (DIDS), or by omission of HCO3- or Cl- from the medium did not affect any of the changes in pHi elicited by the above agents. It is concluded that the principal mechanism responsible for pHi regulation in HIT-T15 cells is the Na+/H+ antiporter and that the HCO3-/Cl- exchange systems make little, if any, contribution.

Inhibition of mucin secretion in a colonic adenocarcinoma cell line by DIDS and potassium channel blockers

The factors which influence the exocytosis of mucins are not well characterized. Since the physical properties of mucins may be affected significantly by the co-secretion of electrolytes and water, we studied the relationship between ion movement and mucin secretion in T84 cells, a human colonic adenocarcinoma cell line which has been well characterized with respect to apical chloride secretion. Secretion of mucin was assessed by immunoassay of mucin appearing in the medium within 30 min of stimulation. Cells were grown on plastic in DMEM/Ham's F12 medium and experiments were carried out at 70% confluence. Mucin secretion was stimulated by the calcium ionophore A23187, or A23187 plus vasoactive intestinal polypeptide. Stimulated mucin secretion was not affected by loop diuretics (furosemide (1 x 10(-3) M) or bumetanide (1 x 10(-4) M)), with or without the addition of ouabain (5 x 10(-5) M) and amiloride (1 x 10(-5) M), making it unlikely that transcellular chloride movements in necessary for mucin secretion. However, 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (DIDS; (1 x 10(-5) and 5 x 10(-5) M) and three potassium channel blockers BaCl2 (1 x 10(-3) and 5 x 10(-3) M), tetraethylammonium chloride (1 x 10(-2) M) and quinine (5 x 10(-4) M) inhibited mucin secretion. A DIDS-sensitive chloride channel or chloride/bicarbonate exchanger and a Ca2(+)-dependent potassium channel may play important roles in mucin secretion. Since plasma membranes are sparingly permeable to DIDS, the DIDS-sensitive site is likely to be on the apical plasma membrane, perhaps at an initiation locus for exocytosis.

Thrombin-induced cytosolic alkalinization in human platelets occurs without an apparent involvement of HCO3-/Cl- exchange

We have estimated the changes in cytosolic pH (pHi) that occur when human platelets are stimulated by thrombin. Changes in pHi were estimated (i) from the H+ efflux across the plasma membrane using an extracellular pH electrode and (ii) using an intracellular pH-sensitive fluorescent dye (BCECF). Stimulation of platelets with thrombin (0.5 unit/ml) resulted in an H+ efflux that averaged 7.7 +/- 1.6 mumol/10(11) platelets (means +/- SD) leading to an increase in pHi, from 7.05 +/- 0.04 to 7.45 +/- 0.05. Both H+ efflux and pHi changes were unaffected by 0.1 mM 4,4-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2 disulphonate (DIDS), 0.1 mM 4'-acetamido 4'-isothiostilbene-2,2'-disulphonic acid (SITS), or 0.5 mM bumetanide, suggesting no involvement of anion transport systems, e.g. an HCO3-/Cl- exchange. Removal of HCO3- or Cl- from the suspending buffer had no effect on the extent of the rise in pHi. After blockade of Na+/H+ exchange by 100 microM ethylisopropylamiloride (EIPA), thrombin induced a decrease in pHi the rate of which averaged 0.39 unit/min in HCO3(-)-containing medium, and 0.57 unit/min in HCO3(-)-free medium. The cytosolic buffer capacity for H+ was determined by the nigericin/NH4Cl technique in BCECF-loaded platelets and averaged 25.3 mmol/(1xpH) in buffer containing 8 mM HCO3-, but only 17.2 mmol/(1xpH) in HCO3(-)-free buffer. The total amount of H+ transferred by Na+/H+ exchange can be estimated from our measurements at 10 mmol/l platelet cytosol in the absence of HCO3- and to 14 mmol/l platelet cytosol in the presence of HCO3-, and is in good agreement with the estimated amount of Na+ uptake by ADP-stimulated platelets.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Calcium and pH in anoxic and toxic injury

The critical events that lead to the transition from reversible to irreversible injury remain unclear. Studies are reviewed that have suggested that a rise in cytosolic free Ca2+ initiates plasma membrane bleb formation and a sequence of events that leads ultimately to cell death. In recent studies, we have measured changes in cytosolic free Ca2+, mitochondrial membrane potential, cytosolic pH, and cell surface blebbing in relation to the onset of irreversible injury and cell death following anoxic and toxic injury to single hepatocytes utilizing multiparameter digitized video microscopy (MDVM). MDVM is an emerging new technology that permits single living cells to be labeled with multiple probes whose fluorescence is responsive to specific cellular parameters of interest. Fluorescence images specific for each probe are collected over time, and then digitized and stored. Image analysis and processing then permits quantitation of the spatial distribution of the various parameters within the single living cells. Our results indicate the following: (1) formation of plasma membrane blebs accompanies all types of injury in hepatocytes; (2) cell death is a rapid event, initiated by rupture of a plasma membrane bleb, and is coincident with the onset of irreversible injury; (3) an increase of cytosolic free Ca2+ is not the stimulus for bleb formation or the final common pathway leading to cell death; (4) a decrease of mitochondrial membrane potential precedes loss of cell viability; (5) cytosolic pH falls by more than 1 pH unit during chemical hypoxia. This acidosis protects against the onset of cell death.

Inhibition of chloride/bicarbonate antiports in monkey kidney cells (Vero) by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

Two chloride/bicarbonate antiport mechanisms are involved in the regulation of cytosolic pH (pHi) in Vero cells, namely Na+-dependent chloride/bicarbonate antiport to normalize pHi after acidification of the cytosol, and Na+-independent Cl-/HCO3- exchange to regulate pHi back to normal after alkalinization of the cytosol. We have tested the effects of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin), salicylic acid, indomethacin and piroxicam on chloride/bicarbonate exchange and on chloride self exchange in Vero cells. All these drugs were found to inhibit both the Na+-independent and the Na+-linked chloride/bicarbonate antiport in a dose dependent manner. The Na+-independent chloride/bicarbonate antiport was inhibited by lower doses of the drugs than the Na+-linked antiport. The ability of the drugs to inhibit chloride self exchange did not vary much with varying external pH, indicating that the inhibitory effect is due to the anionic form of the drugs. Inhibition occurred immediately upon addition of the drugs, and it was rapidly reversible, indicating that the inhibitory effect is due to direct interaction of the drugs with chloride/bicarbonate antiport, and not to inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis. The relevance of our findings to the clinical effects of the drugs is discussed.