A specific mutation abolishing Na+/H+ antiport activity in hamster fibroblasts precludes growth at neutral and acidic pH

Phospho-NHE3 forms membrane patches and interacts with beta-actin to sense and maintain constant direction during cell migration

The Na(+)/H(+) exchanger NHE3 colocalizes with beta-actin at the leading edge of directionally migrating cells. Using human osteosarcoma cells (SaOS-2), rat osteoblasts (calvaria), and human embryonic kidney (HEK) cells, we identified a novel role for NHE3 via beta-actin in anode and cathode directed motility, during electrotaxis. NHE3 knockdown by RNAi revealed that NHE3 expression is required to achieve constant directionality and polarity in migrating cells. Phosphorylated NHE3 (pNHE3) and beta-actin complex formation was impaired by the NHE3 inhibitor S3226 (IC50 0.02µM). Fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy (FCCS) revealed that the molecular interactions between NHE3 and beta-actin in membrane protrusions increased 1.7-fold in the presence of a directional cue and decreased 3.3-fold in the presence of cytochalasin D. Data from flow cytometric analysis showed that membrane potential of cells (Vmem) decreases in directionally migrating, NHE3-deficient osteoblasts and osteosarcoma cells whereas only Vmem of wild type osteoblasts is affected during directional migration. These findings suggest that pNHE3 has a mechanical function via beta-actin that is dependent on its physiological activity and Vmem. Furthermore, phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate (PIP3) levels increase while PIP2 remains stable when cells have persistent directionality. Both PI3 kinase (PI3K) and Akt expression levels change proportionally to NHE3 levels. Interestingly, however, the content of pNHE3 level does not change when PI3K/Akt is inhibited. Therefore, we conclude that NHE3 can act as a direction sensor for cells and that NHE3 phosphorylation in persistent directional cell migration does not involve PI3K/Akt during electrotaxis.

Carbonic anhydrase IX as an imaging and therapeutic target for tumors and metastases

Carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX) which is a zinc containing metalloprotein, efficiently catalyzes the reversible hydration of carbon dioxide. It is constitutively up-regulated in several cancer types and has an important role in tumor progression, acidification and metastasis. High expression of CAIX generally correlates with poor prognosis and is related to a decrease in the disease-free interval following successful therapy. Therefore, it is considered as a prognostic indicator in oncology.In this review, we describe CAIX regulation and its role in tumor hypoxia, acidification and metastasis. In addition, the molecular imaging of CAIX and its potential for use in cancer detection, diagnosis, staging, and for use in following therapy response is discussed. Both antibodies and small molecular weight compounds have been used for targeted imaging of CAIX expression. The use of CAIX expression as an attractive and promising candidate marker for systemic anticancer therapy is also discussed.

Roles of ion transport in control of cell motility

Cell motility is an essential feature of life. It is essential for reproduction, propagation, embryonic development, and healing processes such as wound closure and a successful immune defense. If out of control, cell motility can become life-threatening as, for example, in metastasis or autoimmune diseases. Regardless of whether ciliary/flagellar or amoeboid movement, controlled motility always requires a concerted action of ion channels and transporters, cytoskeletal elements, and signaling cascades. Ion transport across the plasma membrane contributes to cell motility by affecting the membrane potential and voltage-sensitive ion channels, by inducing local volume changes with the help of aquaporins and by modulating cytosolic Ca(2+) and H(+) concentrations. Voltage-sensitive ion channels serve as voltage detectors in electric fields thus enabling galvanotaxis; local swelling facilitates the outgrowth of protrusions at the leading edge while local shrinkage accompanies the retraction of the cell rear; the cytosolic Ca(2+) concentration exerts its main effect on cytoskeletal dynamics via motor proteins such as myosin or dynein; and both, the intracellular and the extracellular H(+) concentration modulate cell migration and adhesion by tuning the activity of enzymes and signaling molecules in the cytosol as well as the activation state of adhesion molecules at the cell surface. In addition to the actual process of ion transport, both, channels and transporters contribute to cell migration by being part of focal adhesion complexes and/or physically interacting with components of the cytoskeleton. The present article provides an overview of how the numerous ion-transport mechanisms contribute to the various modes of cell motility.

pH sensing by FAK-His58 regulates focal adhesion remodeling

Intracellular pH (pHi) dynamics regulates diverse cellular processes, including remodeling of focal adhesions. We now report that focal adhesion kinase (FAK), a key regulator of focal adhesion remodeling, is a pH sensor responding to physiological changes in pH. The initial step in FAK activation is autophosphorylation of Tyr397, which increased with higher pHi. We used a genetically encoded biosensor to show increased pH at focal adhesions as they mature during cell spreading. We also show that cells with reduced pHi had attenuated FAK-pY397 as well as defective cell spreading and focal adhesions. Mutagenesis studies indicated FAK-His58 is critical for pH sensing and molecular dynamics simulations suggested a model in which His58 deprotonation drives conformational changes that may modulate accessibility of Tyr397 for autophosphorylation. Expression of FAK-H58A in fibroblasts was sufficient to restore defective autophosphorylation and cell spreading at low pHi. These data are relevant to understanding cancer metastasis, which is dependent on increased pHi and FAK activity.

The effects of CA IX catalysis products within tumor microenvironment

Solid tumors are composed of both cancer cells and various types of accessory cells, mainly fibroblasts, that collectively compose the so called tumor-microenvironment. Cancer-associated fibroblasts have been described to actively participate in cancer progression by establishing a cytokine-mediated as well as metabolic crosstalk with cancer cells. In the present paper we show that activated human fibroblasts are able to boost tumor cells proliferation and that this effect is greatly dependent on stromal carbonic anhydrase IX (CA IX) activity. In fact fibroblasts show a strong upregulation of CA IX expression upon activation by cancer cells, while CA IX products, protons and bicarbonate, exert differential effects on cancer cells proliferation. While acidification of extracellular pH, a typical condition of rapidly growing solid tumors, is detrimental for tumor cells proliferation, bicarbonate, through its organication, supplies cancer cells with intermediates useful to sustain their high proliferation rate. Here we propose a new kind of fibroblasts/tumor cells crosstalk within tumor microenvironment, mediated by stromal CA IX products, aimed to favor cancer cells growth, opening new perspectives on CA IX role in tumor microenvironment.

Na+/H+ exchanger 1 is regulated via its lipid-interacting domain, which functions as a molecular switch: a pharmacological approach using indolocarbazole compounds

The plasma membrane Na(+)/H(+) exchanger 1 (NHE1) is rapidly activated in response to various stimuli. The membrane-proximal cytoplasmic region (∼60 residues), termed the lipid-interacting domain (LID), is an important regulatory domain of NHE1. Here, we used a pharmacological approach to further characterize the role of LID in the regulation of NHE1. Pharmacological analysis using staurosporine-like indolocarbazole and bisindolylmaleimide compounds suggested that the phorbol ester- and receptor agonist-induced activation of NHE1 occurs through a protein kinase C-independent mechanism. In particular, only indolocarbazole compounds that inhibited NHE1 activation were able to interact with the LID, suggesting that the inhibition of NHE1 activation is achieved through the direct action of these compounds on the LID. Furthermore, in addition to phorbol esters and a receptor agonist, okadaic acid and hyperosmotic stress, which are known to activate NHE1 through unknown mechanisms, were found to promote membrane association of the LID concomitant with NHE1 activation; these effects were inhibited by staurosporine, as well as by a mutation in the LID. Binding experiments using the fluorescent ATP analog trinitrophenyl ATP revealed that ATP and the NHE1 activator phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate bind competitively to the LID. These findings suggest that modulation of NHE1 activity by various activators and inhibitors occurs through the direct binding of these molecules to the LID, which alters the association of the LID with the plasma membrane.

Hypoxia promotes tumor cell survival in acidic conditions by preserving ATP levels

The efficacy of targeting pH disruption to induce cell death in the acidic and hypoxic tumor microenvironment continues to be assessed. Here we analyzed the impact of varying levels of hypoxia in acidic conditions on fibroblast and tumor cell survival. Across all cell lines tested, hypoxia (1% O(2)) provided protection against acidosis induced cell death compared to normoxia. Meanwhile severe hypoxia (0.1% O(2)) removed this protection and in some cases exacerbated acidosis-induced cell death. Differential survival between cell types during external acidosis correlated with their respective intracellular pH regulating capabilities. Cellular ATP measurements were conducted to determine their contribution to cell survival under these combined stresses. In general, hypoxia (1% O(2)) maintained elevated ATP levels in acidic conditions while severe hypoxia did not. To further explore this interaction we combined acidosis with ATP depletion using 2-deoxyglucose and observed an enhanced rate of cell mortality. Striking results were also observed with hypoxia providing protection against cell death in spite of a severe metabolic stress induced by a combination of acidosis and oligomycin. Finally, we demonstrated that both HIF1α and HIF2α expression were drastically reduced in hypoxic and acidic conditions indicating a sensitivity of this protein to cellular pH conditions. This knockdown of HIF expression by acidosis has implications for the development of therapies targeting the disruption of cellular pH regulation. Our results reinforce the proof of concept that acidosis and metabolic disruption affecting ATP levels could be exploited as a tumor cell killing strategy.

Disrupting proton dynamics and energy metabolism for cancer therapy

Intense interest in the 'Warburg effect' has been revived by the discovery that hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF1) reprogrammes pyruvate oxidation to lactic acid conversion; lactic acid is the end product of fermentative glycolysis. The most aggressive and invasive cancers, which are often hypoxic, rely on exacerbated glycolysis to meet the increased demand for ATP and biosynthetic precursors and also rely on robust pH-regulating systems to combat the excessive generation of lactic and carbonic acids. In this Review, we present the key pH-regulating systems and synthesize recent advances in strategies that combine the disruption of pH control with bioenergetic mechanisms. We discuss the possibility of exploiting, in rapidly growing tumours, acute cell death by 'metabolic catastrophe'.

Human voltage-gated proton channel hv1: a new potential biomarker for diagnosis and prognosis of colorectal cancer

Solid tumors exist in a hypoxic microenvironment, and possess high-glycolytic metabolites. To avoid the acidosis, tumor cells must exhibit a dynamic cytosolic pH regulation mechanism(s). The voltage-gated proton channel Hv1 mediates NADPH oxidase function by compensating cellular loss of electrons with protons. Here, we showed for the first time, that Hv1 expression is increased in colorectal tumor tissues and cell lines, associated with poor prognosis. Immunohistochemistry showed that Hv1 is strongly expressed in adenocarcinomas but not or lowly expressed in normal colorectal or hyperplastic polyps. Hv1 expression in colorectal cancer is significantly associated with the tumor size, tumor classification, lymph node status, clinical stage and p53 status. High Hv1 expression is associated significantly with shorter overall and recurrence-free survival. Furthermore, real-time RT-PCR and immunocytochemistry showed that Hv1 is highly expressed in colorectal cancer cell lines, SW620, HT29, LS174T and Colo205, but not in SW480. Inhibitions of Hv1 expression and activity in the highly metastatic SW620 cells by small interfering RNA (siRNA) and Zn²⁺ respectively, markedly decrease the cell invasion and migration, restraint proton extrusion and the intracellular pH recovery. Our results suggest that Hv1 may be used as a potential biomarker for diagnosis and prognosis of colorectal carcinoma, and a potential target for anticancer drugs in colorectal cancer therapy.

Electrostatics control actin filament nucleation and elongation kinetics

The actin cytoskeleton is a central mediator of cellular morphogenesis, and rapid actin reorganization drives essential processes such as cell migration and cell division. Whereas several actin-binding proteins are known to be regulated by changes in intracellular pH, detailed information regarding the effect of pH on the actin dynamics itself is still lacking. Here, we combine bulk assays, total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy, fluorescence fluctuation spectroscopy techniques, and theory to comprehensively characterize the effect of pH on actin polymerization. We show that both nucleation and elongation are strongly enhanced at acidic pH, with a maximum close to the pI of actin. Monomer association rates are similarly affected by pH at both ends, although dissociation rates are differentially affected. This indicates that electrostatics control the diffusional encounter but not the dissociation rate, which is critical for the establishment of actin filament asymmetry. A generic model of protein-protein interaction, including electrostatics, explains the observed pH sensitivity as a consequence of charge repulsion. The observed pH effect on actin in vitro agrees with measurements of Listeria propulsion in pH-controlled cells. pH regulation should therefore be considered as a modulator of actin dynamics in a cellular environment.

Evidence that Na+/H+ exchanger 1 is an ATP-binding protein

Na(+)/H(+) exchanger (NHE) 1 is a member of the solute carrier superfamily, which regulates intracellular ionic homeostasis. NHE1 is known to require cellular ATP for its activity, despite there being no requirement for energy input from ATP hydrolysis. In this study, we investigated whether NHE1 is an ATP-binding protein. We designed a baculovirus vector carrying both epitope-tagged NHE1 and its cytosolic subunit CHP1, and expressed the functional NHE1-CHP1 complex on the surface of Sf9 insect cells. Using the purified complex protein consisting of NHE1 and CHP1 from Sf9 cells, we examined a photoaffinity labeling reaction with 8-azido-ATP-biotin. UV irradiation promoted the incorporation of 8-azido-ATP into NHE1, but not into CHP1, with an apparent Kd of 29.1 µM in the presence of Mg(2+). The nonlabeled nucleotides ATP, GTP, TTP and CTP all inhibited this crosslinking. However, ATP had the strongest inhibitory effect, with an apparent inhibition constant (IC50) for ATP of 2.2 mM, close to the ATP concentration giving the half-maximal activation of NHE1 activity. Importantly, crosslinking was more strongly inhibited by ATP than by ADP, suggesting that ATP is dissociated from NHE1 upon ATP hydrolysis. Limited proteolysis with thrombin and deletion mutant analysis revealed that the 8-azido-ATP-binding site is within the C-terminal cytoplasmic domain of NHE1. Equilibrium dialysis with NHE1-derived peptides provided evidence that ATP directly binds to the proximal cytoplasmic region (Gly542-Pro598), which is critical for ATP-dependent regulation of NHE1. These findings suggest that NHE1 is an ATP-binding transporter. Thus, ATP may serve as a direct activator of NHE1.

Analysis of Ca2+ signaling motifs that regulate proton signaling through the Na+/H+ exchanger NHX-7 during a rhythmic behavior in Caenorhabditis elegans

Membrane proton transporters contribute to pH homeostasis but have also been shown to transmit information between cells in close proximity through regulated proton secretion. For example, the nematode intestinal Na(+)/H(+) exchanger NHX-7 causes adjacent muscle cells to contract by transiently acidifying the extracellular space between the intestine and muscle. NHX-7 operates during a Ca(2+)-dependent rhythmic behavior and contains several conserved motifs for regulation by Ca(2+) input, including motifs for calmodulin and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate binding, protein kinase C- and calmodulin-dependent protein kinase type II phosphorylation, and a binding site for calcineurin homologous protein. Here, we tested the idea that Ca(2+) input differentiates proton signaling from pH housekeeping activity. Each of these motifs was mutated, and their contribution to NHX-7 function was assessed. These functions included pH recovery from acidification in cells in culture expressing recombinant NHX-7, extracellular acidification measured during behavior in live moving worms, and muscle contraction strength as a result of this acidification. Our data suggest that multiple levels of Ca(2+) input regulate NHX-7, whose transport capacity normally exceeds the minimum necessary to cause muscle contraction. Furthermore, extracellular acidification limits NHX-7 proton transport through feedback inhibition, likely to prevent metabolic acidosis from occurring. Our findings are consistent with an integrated network whereby both Ca(2+) and pH contribute to proton signaling. Finally, our results obtained by expressing rat NHE1 in Caenorhabditis elegans suggest that a conserved mechanism of regulation may contribute to cell-cell communication or proton signaling by Na(+)/H(+) exchangers in mammals.

Knock-down of hypoxia-induced carbonic anhydrases IX and XII radiosensitizes tumor cells by increasing intracellular acidosis

The relationship between acidosis within the tumor microenvironment and radioresistance of hypoxic tumor cells remains unclear. Previously we reported that hypoxia-induced carbonic anhydrases (CA) IX and CAXII constitute a robust intracellular pH (pH_i)-regulating system that confers a survival advantage on hypoxic human colon carcinoma LS174Tr cells in acidic microenvironments. Here we investigate the role of acidosis, CAIX and CAXII knock-down in combination with ionizing radiation. Fibroblasts cells (-/+ CAIX) and LS174Tr cells (inducible knock-down for ca9/ca12) were analyzed for cell cycle phase distribution and survival after irradiation in extracellular pH_o manipulations and hypoxia (1% O₂) exposure. Radiotherapy was used to target ca9/ca12-silenced LS174Tr tumors grown in nude mice. We found that diminishing the pH_i-regulating capacity of fibroblasts through inhibition of Na⁺/H⁺ exchanger 1 sensitize cells to radiation-induced cell death. Secondly, the pH_i-regulating function of CAIX plays a key protective role in irradiated fibroblasts in an acidic environment as accompanied by a reduced number of cells in the radiosensitive phases of the cell cycle. Thirdly, we demonstrate that irradiation of LS174Tr spheroids, silenced for either ca9 or both ca9/ca12, showed a respective 50 and 75% increase in cell death as a result of a decrease in cell number in the radioresistant S phase and a disruption of CA-mediated pH_i regulation. Finally, LS174Tr tumor progression was strongly decreased when ca9/ca12 silencing was combined with irradiation in vivo. These findings highlight the combinatory use of radiotherapy with targeting of the pH_i-regulating CAs as an anti-cancer strategy.

Global analysis of Plasmodium falciparum Na(+)/H(+) exchanger (pfnhe-1) allele polymorphism and its usefulness as a marker of in vitro resistance to quinine

The aim of this study was to provide a comprehensive analysis of the worldwide genetic polymorphism of ms4760 alleles of the pfnhe-1 gene and to discuss their usefulness as molecular marker of quinine resistance (QNR). A new numbering of ms4760 allele, classification grouping ms4760 alleles according to the number of DNNND and DDNHNDNHNND repeat motifs in blocks II and V was also proposed. A total of 1508 ms4760 sequences from isolates, culture-adapted parasites or reference strains from various geographical regions were retrieved from GenBank (last update on 15th June 2012) or from publications and were used for genetic analyses. The association of different alleles of pfnhe-1 with resistance to quinoline antimalarial drugs showed marked geographic disparities. The validity and reliability of candidate polymorphisms in pfnhe-1 gene as molecular markers of QNR appeared restricted to endemic areas from South Asia or possibly East African countries and needs to be confirmed.

Unconventional chemiosmotic coupling of NHA2, a mammalian Na+/H+ antiporter, to a plasma membrane H+ gradient

Human NHA2, a newly discovered cation proton antiporter, is implicated in essential hypertension by gene linkage analysis. We show that NHA2 mediates phloretin-sensitive Na(+)-Li(+) counter-transport (SLC) activity, an established marker for hypertension. In contrast to bacteria and fungi where H(+) gradients drive uptake of metabolites, secondary transport at the plasma membrane of mammalian cells is coupled to the Na(+) electrochemical gradient. Our findings challenge this paradigm by showing coupling of NHA2 and V-type H(+)-ATPase at the plasma membrane of kidney-derived MDCK cells, resulting in a virtual Na(+) efflux pump. Thus, NHA2 functionally recapitulates an ancient shared evolutionary origin with bacterial NhaA. Although plasma membrane H(+) gradients have been observed in some specialized mammalian cells, the ubiquitous tissue distribution of NHA2 suggests that H(+)-coupled transport is more widespread. The coexistence of Na(+) and H(+)-driven chemiosmotic circuits has implications for salt and pH regulation in the kidney.

Human intestinal epithelial cell line SK-CO15 is a new model system to study Na(+)/H(+) exchanger 3

The Caco-2 cell line represents absorptive polarized intestinal epithelial cells that express multiple forms of Na(+)/H(+) exchanger (NHE) in their plasma membranes. Caco-2 cells express the major apical NHE isoform NHE3, but low NHE3 expression together with inefficient transfection often hamper intended studies. In this study, we examined whether SK-CO15 cells could be used to study NHE3 regulation. SK-CO15 cells grown on Transwell inserts developed polarized epithelial cells with microvilli. The transfection efficiency of SK-CO15 cells was markedly higher compared with Caco-2 cells, an advantage in gene transfer and knockout. SK-CO15 cells expressed NHE1, NHE2, and NHE3. NHE3 expression was significantly greater in these cells than Caco-2, and NHE3 comprised more than half of total NHE activity. Apical expression of NHE3 in SK-CO15 cells was confirmed by confocal immunofluorescence and surface biotinylation. NHE regulatory factors NHERF1 and NHERF2, which are important for regulation of NHE3 activity, were expressed in these cells. Stimulatory response of NHE3 in SK-CO15 cells was assessed by dexamethasone and lysophosphatidic acid (LPA). Treatment with dexamethasone for 24-48 h increased NHE3 expression and activity. Similarly to Caco-2 cells, SK-CO15 cells lacked the expression of the LPA receptor LPA(5,) but exogenous expression of LPA(5) resulted in acute stimulation of NHE3. Forskolin acutely inhibited NHE3 activity in SK-CO15 cells, further attesting the validity of these cells. We conclude that SK-CO15 cells with the amenity for transfection and high endogenous NHE3 expression are a new and better cell model for NHE3 regulatory investigation than widely used Caco-2 cells.

Na(+)/H(+) exchanger 1 directly binds to calcineurin A and activates downstream NFAT signaling, leading to cardiomyocyte hypertrophy

The calcineurin A (CaNA) subunit was identified as a novel binding partner of plasma membrane Na(+)/H(+) exchanger 1 (NHE1). CaN is a Ca(2+)-dependent phosphatase involved in many cellular functions, including cardiac hypertrophy. Direct binding of CaN to the (715)PVITID(720) sequence of NHE1, which resembles the consensus CaN-binding motif (PXIXIT), was observed. Overexpression of NHE1 promoted serum-induced CaN/nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) signaling in fibroblasts, as indicated by enhancement of NFAT promoter activity and nuclear translocation, which was attenuated by NHE1 inhibitor. In neonatal rat cardiomyocytes, NHE1 stimulated hypertrophic gene expression and the NFAT pathway, which were inhibited by a CaN inhibitor, FK506. Importantly, CaN activity was strongly enhanced with increasing pH, so NHE1 may promote CaN/NFAT signaling via increased intracellular pH. Indeed, Na(+)/H(+) exchange activity was required for NHE1-dependent NFAT signaling. Moreover, interaction of CaN with NHE1 and clustering of NHE1 to lipid rafts were also required for this response. Based on these results, we propose that NHE1 activity may generate a localized membrane microdomain with higher pH, thereby sensitizing CaN to activation and promoting NFAT signaling. In cardiomyocytes, such signaling can be a pathway of NHE1-dependent hypertrophy.

Fibronectin stimulates migration through lipid raft dependent NHE-1 activation in mouse embryonic stem cells: involvement of RhoA, Ca(2+)/CaM, and ERK

BACKGROUND

Extracellular matrix (ECM) components and intracellular pH (pH(i)) may serve as regulators of cell migration in various cell types.

METHODS

The Oris migration assay was used to assess the effect of fibronectin (FN) on cell motility. The Na(+)/H(+) exchanger (NHE)-1 activity was evaluated by measuring pH(i) and [(22)Na(+)] uptake. To examine activated signaling molecules, western blot analysis and immunoprecipitation was performed.

RESULTS

ECM components (FN, laminin, fibrinogen, and collagen type I) increased [(22)Na(+)] uptake, pH(i), and cell migration. In addition, FN-induced increase of cell migration was inhibited by NHE-1 inhibitor amiloride or NHE-1-specific siRNA. FN selectively increased the mRNA and protein expression of NHE-1, but not that of NHE-2 or NHE-3. FN binds integrin β1 and subsequently stimulates caveolin-1 phosphorylation and Ca(2+) influx. Then, NHE-1 is phosphorylated by RhoA and Rho kinases, and Ca(2+)/calmodulin (CaM) signaling elicits complex formation with NHE-1, which is enriched in lipid raft/caveolae microdomains of the plasma membrane. Activation of NHE-1 continuously induces an increase of [(22)Na(+)] uptake and pH(i). Finally, NHE-1-dependent extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 phosphorylation enhanced matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and filamentous-actin (F-actin) expression, partially contributing to the regulation of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) migration.

CONCLUSIONS

FN stimulated mESCs migration and proliferation through NHE-1 activation, which were mediated by lipid raft-associated caveolin-1, RhoA/ROCK, and Ca(2+)/CaM signaling pathways.

GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE

The precise role of NHE in the modulation of ECM-related physiological functions such as proliferation and migration remains poorly understood. Thus, this study analyzed the relationship between FN and NHE in regulating the migration of mouse ESCs and their related signaling pathways.

Clinicopathological and biological significance of human voltage-gated proton channel Hv1 protein overexpression in breast cancer

In our previous work, we showed for the first time that the voltage-gated proton channel Hv1 is specifically expressed in highly metastatic human breast tumor tissues and cell lines. However, the contribution of Hv1 to breast carcinogenesis is not well known. In this study, we showed that Hv1 expression was significantly correlated with the tumor size (p = 0.001), tumor classification (p = 0.000), lymph node status (p = 0.000), clinical stage (p = 0.000), and Her-2 status (p = 0.045). High Hv1 expression was associated significantly with shorter overall (p = 0.000) and recurrence-free survival (p = 0.000). In vitro, knockdown of Hv1 expression in the highly metastatic MDA-MB-231 cells decreased the cell proliferation and invasiveness, inhibited the cell proton secretion and intracellular pH recovery, and blocked the cell capacity of acidifying extracellular milieu. Furthermore, the gelatinase activity in MDA-MB-231 cells that suppressed Hv1 was reduced. In vivo, the breast tumor size of the implantation of the MDA-MB-231 xenografts in nude mice that were knocked down by Hv1 was dramatically smaller than that in the control groups. The results demonstrated that the inhibition of Hv1 function via knockdown of Hv1 expression can effectively retard the cancer growth and suppress the cancer metastasis by the decrease of proton extrusion and the down-regulation of gelatinase activity. Based on these results, we came to the conclusion that Hv1 is a potential biomarker for prognosis of breast cancer and a potential target for anticancer drugs in breast cancer therapy.

Urokinase plasminogen activator receptor induced non-small cell lung cancer invasion and metastasis requires NHE1 transporter expression and transport activity

BACKGROUND: Non-small cell lung cancers (NSLC) are aggressive cancers that are insensitive to chemotherapies and accounts for nearly 33% of all cancer deaths in the United States. Two hallmarks of cancer that allow cells to invade and metastasize are sustained proliferation and enhanced motility. In this study we investigate the relationship between urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA)/uPA receptor (uPAR) signaling and Na(+)/H(+) exchanger isoform 1 (NHE1) expression and activity. METHODS AND RESULTS: The addition of 10nM uPA increased the carcinogenic potential of three NSCLC cell lines, NCI-H358, NCI-H460, and NCI-H1299. This included an increase in the rate of cell proliferation 1.6 to 1.9 fold; an increase in the percentage of cells displaying stress fibers 3.05 to 3.17 fold; and an increase in anchorage-independent growth from 1.64 to 2.0 fold. In each of these cases the increase was blocked when the experiments were performed with NHE1 inhibited by 10 μM EIPA (ethylisopropyl amiloride). To further evaluate the role of uPA/uPAR and NHE1 in tumor progression we assessed signaling events using full-length uPA compared to the uPA amino terminal fragment (ATF). Comparing uPA and ATF signaling in H460 cells, we found that both uPA and ATF increased stress fiber formation approximately 2 fold, while uPA increased matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) activity 5.44 fold compared to 2.81 fold for ATF. To expand this signaling study, two new cell lines were generated, one with reduced NHE1 expression (H460 NHE1 K/D) and one with reduced uPAR expression (H460 uPAR K/D). Using the K/D cell lines we found that neither uPA nor ATF could stimulate stress fiber formation or MMP9 activity in cells with dramatically decreased NHE1 or uPAR expression. Finally, using in vivo tumor formation studies in athymic mice we found that when mice were injected with H460 cells 80% of mice formed tumors with an average volume of 390 mm(3). This was compared to 20% of H460 uPAR K/D injected mice forming tumors with an average volume of 15 mm(3) and 10% of H460 NHE1 K/D injected mice forming tumors with an average volume of 5 mm(3). CONCLUSION: Taken together, these data demonstrate that uPA/uPAR-mediated tumor progression and metastasis requires NHE1 in NSCLC cells and suggests a potential therapeutic approach to blocking cancer progression.

Regulation of acid-base transporters by reactive oxygen species following mitochondrial fragmentation

Mitochondrial morphology is determined by the balance between the opposing processes of fission and fusion, each of which is regulated by a distinct set of proteins. Abnormalities in mitochondrial dynamics have been associated with a variety of diseases, including neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and dominant optic atrophy. Although the genetic determinants of fission and fusion are well recognized, less is known about the mechanism(s) whereby altered morphology contributes to the underlying pathophysiology of these disease states. Previous work from our laboratory identified a role for mitochondrial dynamics in intracellular pH homeostasis in both mammalian cell culture and in the genetic model organism Caenorhabditis elegans. Here we show that the acidification seen in mutant animals that have lost the ability to fuse their mitochondrial inner membrane occurs through a reactive oxygen species (ROS)-dependent mechanism and can be suppressed through the use of pharmacological antioxidants targeted specifically at the mitochondrial matrix. Physiological approaches examining the activity of endogenous mammalian acid-base transport proteins in rat liver Clone 9 cells support the idea that ROS signaling to sodium-proton exchangers contributes to acidification. Because maintaining pH homeostasis is essential for cell function and viability, the results of this work provide new insight into the pathophysiology associated with the loss of inner mitochondrial membrane fusion.

CD147 subunit of lactate/H+ symporters MCT1 and hypoxia-inducible MCT4 is critical for energetics and growth of glycolytic tumors

Malignant tumors exhibit increased dependence on glycolysis, resulting in abundant export of lactic acid, a hypothesized key step in tumorigenesis. Lactic acid is mainly transported by two H(+)/lactate symporters, MCT1/MCT4, that require the ancillary protein CD147/Basigin for their functionality. First, we showed that blocking MCT1/2 in Ras-transformed fibroblasts with AR-C155858 suppressed lactate export, glycolysis, and tumor growth, whereas ectopic expression of MCT4 in these cells conferred resistance to MCT1/2 inhibition and reestablished tumorigenicty. A mutant-derivative, deficient in respiration (res(-)) and exclusively relying on glycolysis for energy, displayed low tumorigenicity. These res(-) cells could develop resistance to MCT1/2 inhibition and became highly tumorigenic by reactivating their endogenous mct4 gene, highlighting that MCT4, the hypoxia-inducible and tumor-associated lactate/H(+) symporter, drives tumorigenicity. Second, in the human colon adenocarcinoma cell line (LS174T), we showed that combined silencing of MCT1/MCT4 via inducible shRNA, or silencing of CD147/Basigin alone, significantly reduced glycolytic flux and tumor growth. However, both silencing approaches, which reduced tumor growth, displayed a low level of CD147/Basigin, a multifunctional protumoral protein. To gain insight into CD147/Basigin function, we designed experiments, via zinc finger nuclease-mediated mct4 and basigin knockouts, to uncouple MCTs from Basigin expression. Inhibition of MCT1 in MCT4-null, Basigin(high) cells suppressed tumor growth. Conversely, in Basigin-null cells, in which MCT activity had been maintained, tumorigenicity was not affected. Collectively, these findings highlight that the major protumoral action of CD147/Basigin is to control the energetics of glycolytic tumors via MCT1/MCT4 activity and that blocking lactic acid export provides an efficient anticancer strategy.

Cross-reactivity of acid-sensing ion channel and Na⁺-H⁺ exchanger antagonists with nicotinic acetylcholine receptors

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are widely distributed throughout the mammalian central and peripheral nervous systems, where they contribute to neuronal excitability and synaptic communication. It has been reported that nAChRs are modulated by BK channels and that BK channels, in turn, are inhibited by acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs). Here we investigate the possible functional interaction between these channels in medial habenula (MHb) neurones. We report that selective antagonists of large-conductance calcium-activated potassium channels and ASIC1a channels, paxilline and psalmotoxin 1, respectively, did not induce detectable changes in nicotine-evoked currents. In contrast, the non-selective ASIC and Na(+)-H(+) exchanger (NHE1) antagonists, amiloride and its analogues, suppressed nicotine-evoked responses in MHb neurones of wild-type and ASIC2 null mice, excluding a possible involvement of ASIC2 in the nAChR inhibition by amiloride. Zoniporide, a more selective inhibitor of NHE1, reversibly inhibited α3β4-, α7- and α4-containing (*) nAChRs in Xenopus oocytes and in brain slices, as well as in PS120 cells deficient in NHE1 and virally transduced with nAChRs, suggesting a generalized effect of zoniporide in most neuronal nAChR subtypes. Independently from nAChR antagonism, zoniporide profoundly blocked synaptic transmission onto MHb neurones without affecting glutamatergic and GABA receptors. Taken together, these results indicate that amiloride and zoniporide, which are clinically used to treat hypertension and cardiovascular disease, have an inhibitory effect on neuronal nAChRs when used experimentally at high doses. The possible cross-reactivity of these compounds with nAChRs in vivo will require further investigation.

Targeting hypoxic tumor cell viability with carbohydrate-based carbonic anhydrase IX and XII inhibitors

Carbonic anhydrase (CA) enzymes, specifically membrane-bound isozymes CA IX and CA XII, underpin a pH-regulating system that enables hypoxic tumor cell survival and proliferation. CA IX and XII are implicated as potential targets for the development of new hypoxic cancer therapies. To date, only a few small molecules have been characterized in CA-relevant cell and animal model systems. In this paper, we describe the development of a new class of carbohydrate-based small molecule CA inhibitors, many of which inhibit CA IX and XII within a narrow range of low nanomolar K(i) values (5.3-11.2 nM). We evaluate for the first time carbohydrate-based CA inhibitors in cell-based models that emulate the protective role of CA IX in an acidic tumor microenvironment. Our findings identified two inhibitors (compounds 5 and 17) that block CA IX-induced survival and have potential for development as in vivo cancer cell selective inhibitors.

Anticancer targets in the glycolytic metabolism of tumors: a comprehensive review

CANCER IS A METABOLIC DISEASE AND THE SOLUTION OF TWO METABOLIC EQUATIONS: to produce energy with limited resources and to fulfill the biosynthetic needs of proliferating cells. Both equations are solved when glycolysis is uncoupled from oxidative phosphorylation in the tricarboxylic acid cycle, a process known as the glycolytic switch. This review addresses in a comprehensive manner the main molecular events accounting for high-rate glycolysis in cancer. It starts from modulation of the Pasteur Effect allowing short-term adaptation to hypoxia, highlights the key role exerted by the hypoxia-inducible transcription factor HIF-1 in long-term adaptation to hypoxia, and summarizes the current knowledge concerning the necessary involvement of aerobic glycolysis (the Warburg effect) in cancer cell proliferation. Based on the many observations positioning glycolysis as a central player in malignancy, the most advanced anticancer treatments targeting tumor glycolysis are briefly reviewed.

A calcineurin homologous protein is required for sodium-proton exchange events in the C. elegans intestine

Caenorhabditis elegans defecation is a rhythmic behavior, composed of three sequential muscle contractions, with a 50-s periodicity. The motor program is driven by oscillatory calcium signaling in the intestine. Proton fluxes, which require sodium-proton exchangers at the apical and basolateral intestinal membranes, parallel the intestinal calcium flux. These proton shifts are critical for defecation-associated muscle contraction, nutrient uptake, and longevity. How sodium-proton exchangers are activated in time with intestinal calcium oscillation is not known. The posterior body defecation contraction mutant (pbo-1) encodes a calcium-binding protein with homology to calcineurin homologous proteins, which are putative cofactors for mammalian sodium-proton exchangers. Loss of pbo-1 function results in a weakened defecation muscle contraction and a caloric restriction phenotype. Both of these phenotypes also arise from dysfunctions in pH regulation due to mutations in intestinal sodium-proton exchangers. Dynamic, in vivo imaging of intestinal proton flux in pbo-1 mutants using genetically encoded pH biosensors demonstrates that proton movements associated with these sodium-proton exchangers are significantly reduced. The basolateral acidification that signals the first defecation motor contraction is scant in the mutant compared with a normal animal. Luminal and cytoplasmic pH shifts are much reduced in the absence of PBO-1 compared with control animals. We conclude that pbo-1 is required for normal sodium-proton exchanger activity and may couple calcium and proton signaling events.

Dual functional significance of calcineurin homologous protein 1 binding to Na+/H+ exchanger isoform 1

Calcineurin homologous protein 1 (CHP1) binds to the hydrophilic tail of the Na+/H+ exchanger isoform 1 (NHE1). Previous gene knockout of CHP1 revealed that the loss of CHP1 caused a decrease in the total amount of NHE1, suggesting the destabilization of NHE1 molecules without CHP1 (Matsushita et al., Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 293: C246–C254, 2007). However, Pang et al. ( J Biol Chem 276: 17367–17372, 2001) reported that NHE1 without a CHP1 binding site was found in the plasma membrane, suggesting no requirement of CHP1 binding for plasma membrane localization of NHE1. Here, the functional significance of CHP1 binding to NHE1 was examined to resolve these contradictory results. In CV1 cells, which overexpressed wild-type NHE1, overexpression of CHP1 caused an increase in both the total amount of NHE1 and the colocalization of NHE1 and CHP1 at the plasma membrane. This provided new visual evidence of the localization of NHE1 from endoplasmic reticulum to the plasma membrane upon CHP1 binding. An immunoprecipitation assay showed that the expression of CHP1 reduced the ubiquitination of NHE1 and/or its associated proteins. Mutant NHE1s without CHP1 binding site exhibited a modest localization to the plasma membrane. After reaching the plasma membrane, these mutant NHE1s exhibited shorter half-lives than the wild-type NHE1 with CHP1. The results suggest a dual functional significance of CHP1 and its binding region: 1) binding of CHP1 stabilizes NHE1 and increases its plasma membrane localization by masking a NHE1 disposal signal, and 2) CHP1 binding is required for the antiporter activity.

Evaluating nanoparticle sensor design for intracellular pH measurements

Particle-based nanosensors have over the past decade been designed for optical fluorescent-based ratiometric measurements of pH in living cells. However, quantitative and time-resolved intracellular measurements of pH in endosomes and lysosomes using particle nanosensors are challenging, and there is a need to improve measurement methodology. In the present paper, we have successfully carried out time-resolved pH measurements in endosomes and lyosomes in living cells using nanoparticle sensors and show the importance of sensor choice for successful quantification. We have studied two nanoparticle-based sensor systems that are internalized by endocytosis and elucidated important factors in nanosensor design that should be considered in future development of new sensors. From our experiments it is clear that it is highly important to use sensors that have a broad measurement range, as erroneous quantification of pH is an unfortunate result when measuring pH too close to the limit of the sensitive range of the sensors. Triple-labeled nanosensors with a pH measurement range of 3.2-7.0, which was synthesized by adding two pH-sensitive fluorophores with different pK(a) to each sensor, seem to be a solution to some of the earlier problems found when measuring pH in the endosome-lysosome pathway.

Nuclear accumulation of calcineurin B homologous protein 2 (CHP2) results in enhanced proliferation of tumor cells

The interaction between calcineurin B homologous protein 2 (CHP2) and Na(+) /H(+) exchanger 1 (NHE1), two membrane proteins, is essential for protecting cells from serum deprivation-induced death. Although four putative EF-hands in CHP2 had been predicted for years, Ca²(+) -binding activities of these motifs have not been tested yet, their role in this process remain poorly understood. To identify Ca²(+) -binding motifs required for the stable formation of CHP2/NHE1 complexes, we developed a mutagenesis-based assay in PS120 cells. We found that (45) Ca²(+) bond to two EF-hand motifs (EF3 and 4) of CHP2 proteins with high affinity. Complex formation between CHP2 and the CHP2 binding domain of NHE1 resulted in a marked increase in the Ca²(+) -binding affinity of CHP2. Co-immunoprecipitation and distribution of GFP-tagged CHP2-EF3m/4m also indicated that Ca²(+) affected the membrane location of CHP2 to interact with NHE1. The C-terminal region of CHP2 contains a nuclear export sequence (NES). When the six leucines of NES were mutated to alanines, the resulting CHP2 protein was predominantly localized to the nucleus. Furthermore, mutation of the NES resulted in enhanced proliferation and oncogenic potential of HeLa cells. Together, these results show that calcium and NES control the subcellular distribution of CHP2 and then distinctively regulate cell proliferation.

The spatial organization of proton and lactate transport in a rat brain tumor

Tumors create a heterogeneous acidic microenvironment which assists their growth and which must be taken into account in the design of drugs and their delivery. In addition, the acidic extracellular pH (pHe) is itself exploited in several experimental techniques for drug delivery. The way the acidity is created is not clear. We report here the spatial organization of key proton-handling proteins in C6 gliomas in rat brain. The mean profiles across the tumor rim of the Na⁺/H⁺ exchanger NHE1, and the lactate-H⁺ cotransporter MCT1, both showed peaks. NHE1, which is important for extension and migration of cells in vitro, showed a peak 1.55 times higher than in extratumoural tissue at 0.33 mm from the edge. MCT1 had a broader peak, further into the tumor (maximum 1.76 fold at 1.0 mm from the edge). In contrast, MCT4 and the carbonic anhydrase CAIX, which are associated with hypoxia, were not significantly upregulated in the rim. The spatial distribution of MCT4 was highly correlated with that of CAIX, suggesting that their expression is regulated by the same factors. Since protons extruded by NHE1 diffuse away through extracellular clefts, NHE1 requires a continuous source of intracellular protons. From the stoichiometries of metabolic pathways that produce or consume H⁺, and the greater availability of glucose compared to oxygen in most parts of a tumor, we support the classic view that most of the net proton efflux from C6 gliomas originates in glycolytic formation of lactate and H⁺ inside the tumor, but add that some lactate is taken up into cells in the rim on MCT1, and some lactate diffuses away, leaving its associated protons available to re-enter cells for extrusion on NHE1. Therapeutic inhibition of NHE1, MCT1 or CAIX is predicted to affect different parts of a tumor.

Dual role of CO2/HCO3(-) buffer in the regulation of intracellular pH of three-dimensional tumor growths

Intracellular pH (pH_i), a major modulator of cell function, is regulated by acid/base transport across membranes. Excess intracellular H⁺ ions (e.g. produced by respiration) are extruded by transporters such as Na⁺/H⁺ exchange, or neutralized by HCO₃⁻ taken up by carriers such as Na⁺-HCO₃⁻ cotransport. Using fluorescence pH_i imaging, we show that cancer-derived cell lines (colorectal HCT116 and HT29, breast MDA-MB-468, pancreatic MiaPaca2, and cervical HeLa) extrude acid by H⁺ efflux and HCO₃⁻ influx, largely sensitive to dimethylamiloride and 4,4′-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2′-disulfonate (DIDS), respectively. The magnitude of HCO₃⁻ influx was comparable among the cell lines and may represent a constitutive element of tumor pH_i regulation. In contrast, H⁺ efflux varied considerably (MDA-MB-468 > HCT116 > HT29 > MiaPaca2 > HeLa). When HCO₃⁻ flux was pharmacologically inhibited, acid extrusion in multicellular HT29 and HCT116 spheroids (∼10,000 cells) was highly non-uniform and produced low pH_i at the core. With depth, acid extrusion became relatively more DIDS-sensitive because the low extracellular pH at the spheroid core inhibits H⁺ flux more than HCO₃⁻ flux. HCO₃⁻ flux inhibition also decelerated HCT116 spheroid growth. In the absence of CO₂/HCO₃⁻, acid extrusion by H⁺ flux in HCT116 and MDA-MB-468 spheroids became highly non-uniform and inadequate at the core. This is because H⁺ transporters require extracellular mobile pH buffers, such as CO₂/HCO₃⁻, to overcome low H⁺ ion mobility and chaperone H⁺ ions away from cells. CO₂/HCO₃⁻ exerts a dual effect: as substrate for membrane-bound HCO₃⁻ transporters and as a mobile buffer for facilitating extracellular diffusion of H⁺ ions extruded from cells. These processes can be augmented by carbonic anhydrase activity. We conclude that CO₂/HCO₃⁻ is important for maintaining uniformly alkaline pH_i in small, non-vascularized tumor growths and may be important for cancer disease progression.

pH control mechanisms of tumor survival and growth

A distinguishing phenotype of solid tumors is the presence of an alkaline cellular feature despite the surrounding acidic microenvironment. This phenotypic characteristic of tumors, originally described by Otto Warburg, arises due to alterations in metabolism of solid tumors. Hypoxic regions of solid tumors develop due to poor vascularization and in turn regulate the expression of numerous genes via the transcription factor HIF-1. Ultimately, the tumor microenvironment directs the development of tumor cells adapted to survive in an acidic surrounding where normal cells perish. The provision of unique pH characteristics in tumor cells provides a defining trait that has led to the pursuit of treatments that target metabolism, hypoxia, and pH-related mechanisms to selectively kill cancer cells. Numerous studies over the past decade involving the cancer-specific carbonic anhydrase IX have re-kindled an interest in pH disruption-based therapies. Although an acidification of the intracellular compartment is established as a means to induce normal cell death, the defining role of acid-base disturbances in tumor physiology and survival remains unclear. The aim of this review is to summarize recent data relating to the specific role of pH regulation in tumor cell survival. We focus on membrane transport and enzyme studies in an attempt to elucidate their respective functions regarding tumor cell pH regulation. These data are discussed in the context of future directions for the field of tumor cell acid-base-related research.

Identification of carbonic anhydrase 9 as a contributor to pingyangmycin-induced drug resistance in human tongue cancer cells

Drug resistance is the major obstacle to successful cancer treatment. To understand the mechanisms responsible for drug resistance in tongue cancer, Tca8113 cells derived from moderately differentiated human tongue squamous cell carcinoma were exposed to stepwise escalated concentrations of pingyangmycin (PYM) to develop the resistant cell line called Tca8113/PYM, which showed over 18.78-fold increased resistance to PYM as compared with Tca8113 cells, and cross-resistance to cisplatin, pirarubicin, paclitaxel, adriamycin, and mitomycin. We found that the resistance was not associated with multidrug resistance transporter 1 (p170, p-gp), multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 and breast cancer resistance protein overexpression, so we hypothesized that Tca8113/PYM cells must have some other resistance mechanism selected by PYM. To test this hypothesis, the global gene expression profiles between Tca8113 and Tca8113/PYM cells were compared by cDNA microarray. Eighty-nine genes and thirteen expressed sequence tags with differential expression levels between the two cell lines were identified. Some differential expression levels were validated with real-time PCR and western blot. Furthermore, the functional validation showed that both carbonic anhydrase (CA) inhibitor acetazolamide application and CA9 silencing with CA9 antisense oligonucleotides contribute to the medium pH increase of Tca8113/PYM cells and enhanced PYM chemosensitivity. Moreover, both acetazolamide and CA9 antisense oligonucleotides significantly increased PYM-induced caspase 3 activation in Tca8113/PYM cells. Thus, our study suggests that the resistance of Tca8113/PYM cells is probably associated with CA9 and other differential expression molecules, and that CA9 may be an important marker for prediction of PYM responsiveness in tongue cancer chemotherapy.

New insights into the physiological role of carbonic anhydrase IX in tumour pH regulation

In this review, we discuss the role of the tumour-associated carbonic anhydrase isoform IX (CAIX) in the context of pH regulation. We summarise recent experimental findings on the effect of CAIX on cell growth and survival, and present a diffusion-reaction model to help in the assessment of CAIX function under physiological conditions. CAIX emerges as an important facilitator of acid diffusion and acid transport, helping to overcome large cell-to-capillary distances that are characteristic of solid tumours. The source of substrate for CAIX catalysis is likely to be CO₂, generated by adequately oxygenated mitochondria or from the titration of metabolic acids with HCO₃⁻ taken up from the extracellular milieu. The relative importance of these pathways will depend on oxygen and metabolite availability, the spatiotemporal patterns of the cell's exposure to hypoxia and on the regulation of metabolism by genes. This is now an important avenue for further investigation. The importance of CAIX in regulating tumour pH highlights the protein as a potential target for cancer therapy.

NHE3 mobility in brush borders increases upon NHERF2-dependent stimulation by lyophosphatidic acid

The epithelial brush border (BB) Na(+)/H(+) exchanger NHE3 is associated with the actin cytoskeleton by binding both directly and indirectly to ezrin; indirect binding is via attachment to NHERF family proteins. NHE3 mobility in polarized epithelial cell BBs is restricted by the actin cytoskeleton and NHERF binding such that only approximately 30% of NHE3 in the apical domain of an OK cell line stably expressing NHERF2 is mobile, as judged by FRAP analysis. Given that levels of NHE3 are partially regulated by changes in trafficking, we investigated whether the cytoskeleton association of NHE3 was dynamic and changed as part of acute regulation to allow NHE3 trafficking. The agonist studied was lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), an inflammatory mediator, which acutely stimulates NHE3 activity by increasing the amount of NHE3 on the BBs by stimulated exocytosis. LPA acutely stimulated NHE3 activity in OK cells stably expressing NHERF2. Two conditions that totally prevented LPA stimulation of NHE3 activity only partially prevented stimulation of NHE3 mobility: the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor LY294002, and the NHE3F1 double mutant which has minimal direct binding of NHE3 to ezrin. These results show that LPA stimulation of NHE3 mobility occurs in two parts: (1) PI3K-dependent exocytic trafficking to the BB and (2) an increase in surface mobility of NHE3 in BBs under basal conditions. Moreover, the LPA stimulatory effect on NHE3 mobility required NHERF2. Although NHE3 and NHERF2 co-precipitated under basal conditions, they failed to co-precipitate 30 minutes after addition of LPA, whereas the physical association was re-established by 50-60 minutes. This dynamic interaction between NHERF2 and NHE3 was confirmed by acceptor photobleaching Förster Resonance energy Transfer (FRET). The restricted mobility of NHE3 in BBs under basal conditions as a result of cytoskeleton association is therefore dynamic and is reversed as part of acute LPA stimulation of NHE3. We suggest that this acute but transient increase in NHE3 mobility induced by LPA occurs via two processes: addition of NHE3 to the BB by exocytosis, a process which precedes binding of NHE3 to the actin cytoskeleton via NHERF2-ezrin, and by release of NHERF2 from the NHE3 already localized in the apical membrane, enabling NHE3 to distribute throughout the microvilli. These fractions of NHE3 make up a newly identified pool of NHE3 called the 'transit pool'. Moreover, our results show that there are two aspects of LPA signaling involved in stimulation of NHE3 activity: PI3K-dependent stimulated NHE3 exocytosis and the newly described, PI3K-independent dissociation of microvillar NHE3 from NHERF2.

Novel phorbol ester-binding motif mediates hormonal activation of Na+/H+ exchanger

Protein kinase C (PKC) is considered crucial for hormonal Na(+)/H(+) exchanger (NHE1) activation because phorbol esters (PEs) strongly activate NHE1. However, here we report that rather than PKC, direct binding of PEs/diacylglycerol to the NHE1 lipid-interacting domain (LID) and the subsequent tighter association of LID with the plasma membrane mainly underlies NHE1 activation. We show that (i) PEs directly interact with the LID of NHE1 in vitro, (ii) like PKC, green fluorescent protein (GFP)-labeled LID translocates to the plasma membrane in response to PEs and receptor agonists, (iii) LID mutations markedly inhibit these interactions and PE/receptor agonist-induced NHE1 activation, and (iv) PKC inhibitors ineffectively block NHE1 activation, except staurosporin, which itself inhibits NHE1 via LID. Thus, we propose a PKC-independent mechanism of NHE1 regulation via a PE-binding motif previously unrecognized.

Sensors and regulators of intracellular pH

Protons dictate the charge and structure of macromolecules and are used as energy currency by eukaryotic cells. The unique function of individual organelles therefore depends on the establishment and stringent maintenance of a distinct pH. This, in turn, requires a means to sense the prevailing pH and to respond to deviations from the norm with effective mechanisms to transport, produce or consume proton equivalents. A dynamic, finely tuned balance between proton-extruding and proton-importing processes underlies pH homeostasis not only in the cytosol, but in other cellular compartments as well.

Tumour hypoxia induces a metabolic shift causing acidosis: a common feature in cancer

Maintenance of cellular pH homeostasis is fundamental to life. A number of key intracellular pH (pHi) regulating systems including the Na⁺/H⁺ exchangers, the proton pump, the monocarboxylate transporters, the HCO₃⁻ transporters and exchangers and the membrane-associated and cytosolic carbonic anhydrases cooperate in maintaining a pHi that is permissive for cell survival. A common feature of tumours is acidosis caused by hypoxia (low oxygen tension). In addition to oncogene activation and transformation, hypoxia is responsible for inducing acidosis through a shift in cellular metabolism that generates a high acid load in the tumour microenvironment. However, hypoxia and oncogene activation also allow cells to adapt to the potentially toxic effects of an excess in acidosis. Hypoxia does so by inducing the activity of a transcription factor the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF), and particularly HIF-1, that in turn enhances the expression of a number of pHi-regulating systems that cope with acidosis. In this review, we will focus on the characterization and function of some of the hypoxia-inducible pH-regulating systems and their induction by hypoxic stress. It is essential to understand the fundamentals of pH regulation to meet the challenge consisting in targeting tumour metabolism and acidosis as an anti-tumour approach. We will summarize strategies that take advantage of intracellular and extracellular pH regulation to target the primary tumour and metastatic growth, and to turn around resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

The role of carbonic anhydrase 9 in regulating extracellular and intracellular ph in three-dimensional tumor cell growths

We have studied the role of carbonic anhydrase 9 (CA9), a cancer-associated extracellular isoform of the enzyme carbonic anhydrase in multicellular spheroid growths (radius of approximately 300 microm) of human colon carcinoma HCT116 cells. Spheroids were transfected with CA9 (or empty vector) and imaged confocally (using fluorescent dyes) for both intracellular pH (pH(i)) and pH in the restricted extracellular spaces (pH(e)). With no CA9 expression, spheroids developed very low pH(i) (approximately 6.3) and reduced pH(e) (approximately 6.9) at their core, associated with a diminishing gradient of acidity extending out to the periphery. With CA9 expression, core intracellular acidity was less prominent (pH(i) = approximately 6.6), whereas extracellular acidity was enhanced (pH(e) = approximately 6.6), so that radial pH(i) gradients were smaller and radial pH(e) gradients were larger. These effects were reversed by eliminating CA9 activity with membrane-impermeant CA inhibitors. The observation that CA9 activity reversibly reduces pH(e) indicates the enzyme is facilitating CO(2) excretion from cells (by converting vented CO(2) to extracellular H(+)), rather than facilitating membrane H(+) transport (such as H(+) associated with metabolically generated lactic acid). This latter process requires titration of exported H(+) ions with extracellular HCO(3)(-), which would reduce rather than increase extracellular acidity. In a multicellular structure, the net effect of CA9 on pH(e) will depend on the cellular CO(2)/lactic acid emission ratio (set by local oxygenation and membrane HCO(3)(-) uptake). Our results suggest that CO(2)-producing tumors may express CA9 to facilitate CO(2) excretion, thus raising pH(i) and reducing pH(e), which promotes tumor proliferation and survival. The results suggest a possible basis for attenuating tumor development through inhibiting CA9 activity.

Regulation of intracellular pH during oocyte growth and maturation in mammals

Regulation of intracellular pH (pH(i)) is a fundamental homeostatic process essential for the survival and proliferation of virtually all cell types. The mammalian preimplantation embryo, for example, possesses Na(+)/H(+) and HCO(3)(-)/Cl(-) exchangers that robustly regulate against acidosis and alkalosis respectively. Inhibition of these transporters prevents pH corrections and, perhaps unsurprisingly, leads to impaired embryogenesis. However, recent studies have revealed that the role and regulation of pH(i) is somewhat more complex in the case of the developing and maturing oocyte. Small meiotically incompetent growing oocytes are apparently incapable of regulating their own pH(i), and instead rely upon the surrounding granulosa cells to correct ooplasmic pH, until such a time that the oocyte has developed the capacity to regulate its own pH(i). Later, during meiotic maturation, pH(i)-regulating activities that were developed during growth are inactivated, apparently under the control of MAPK signalling, until the oocyte is successfully fertilized. Here, we will discuss pH homeostasis in early mammalian development, focussing on recent developments highlighting the unusual and unexpected scenario of pH regulation during oocyte growth and maturation.