Determination of cell membrane resistance in cultured renal epithelioid (MDCK) cells: effects of cadmium and mercury ions

Overview of experimental models of the blood-brain barrier in CNS drug discovery

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a physical and metabolic entity that isolates the brain from the systemic circulation. The barrier consists of tight junctions between endothelial cells that contain egress transporters and catabolic enzymes. To cross the BBB, a drug must possess the appropriate physicochemical properties to achieve a sufficient time-concentration profile in brain interstitial fluid (ISF). In this overview, we review techniques to measure BBB permeation, which is evidenced by the free concentration of compound in brain ISF over time. We consider a number of measurement techniques, including in vivo microdialysis and brain receptor occupancy following perfusion. Consideration is also given to the endothelial and nonendothelial cell systems used to assess both the BBB permeation of a test compound and its interactions with egress transporters, and computer models employed for predicting passive permeation and the probability of interactions with BBB transporters.

Efficient electroporation of DNA and protein into confluent and differentiated epithelial cells in culture

Electroporation-mediated delivery of molecules is a procedure widely used for transfecting complementary DNA in bacteria, mammalian and plant cells. This technique has proven very efficient for the introduction of macromolecules into cells in suspension culture and even into cells in their native tissue environment, e.g. retina and embryonic tissues. However, in spite of several attempts to date, there are no well-established procedures to electroporate polarized epithelial cells adhering to a tissue culture substrate (glass, plastic or filter). We report here the development of a simple procedure that uses available commercial equipment and works efficiently and reproducibly for a variety of epithelial cell lines in culture.

Characterization of Luminal and Peritubular Membrane K+Selectivity in Proximal Tubular Cells of Frog Kidney

The functional significance of KCNQ1/KCNE1 K(+) secretory fluxes and the effects of 3 micromol/L Cd(2+) on the peritubular cell membrane potential and its potassium selectivity were investigated in proximal tubular cells of the frog kidney. Perfusing the lumen with l-phenylalanine plus/minus chromanol 293B, a specific blocker of KCNQ1, did not modify rapid depolarization and rate of slow repolarization of the peritubular cell membrane. Peritubular exposure to Cd(2+) led to a sustained, reversible hyperpolarization of the peritubular membrane, paralleled by an increase in fractional K(+) conductance. Peritubular barium blunted hyperpolarization of the peritubular cell membrane to Cd(2+). Thus, the KCNQ1/KCNE1 K(+) secretory fluxes are absent in proximal tubule of frog kidney, while Cd(2+) increases K(+) selectivity of the peritubular cell membrane.

Paracellular ion channel at the tight junction

The tight junction of epithelial cells excludes macromolecules but allows permeation of ions. However, it is not clear whether this ion-conducting property is mediated by aqueous pores or by ion channels. To investigate the permeability properties of the tight junction, we have developed paracellular ion flux assays for four major extracellular ions, Na(+), Cl(-), Ca(2+), and Mg(2+). We found that the tight junction shares biophysical properties with conventional ion channels, including size and charge selectivity, dependency of permeability on ion concentration, competition between permeant molecules, anomalous mole-fraction effects, and sensitivity to pH. Our results support the hypothesis that discrete ion channels are present at the tight junction. Unlike conventional ion channels, which mediate ion transport across lipid bilayers, the tight junction channels must orient parallel to the plane of the plasma membranes to support paracellular ion movements. This new class of paracellular-tight junction channels (PTJC) facilitates the transport of ions between separate extracellular compartments.

Properties and regulation of ion channels in MDCK cells

The MDCK cell has proven to be a useful model cell line for the study of properties and regulation of renal epithelial ion channels. Patch clamp studies disclosed the existence of several K+ channels and of a Cl- channel, and their regulation by hormones, cell volume, trace elements and drugs. Most hormones affect K+ channels at least in part by increasing cytosolic Ca2+. However, indirect evidence points to additional mechanisms contributing to K+ channel activation. Cell swelling activates both K+ channels and unselective anion channels. ICln, a protein cloned from MDCK cells, is either a Cl- channel or a regulator of thereof. ICln is up-regulated by cellular acidification and is crucial for rapid regulatory cell volume decrease.

The effect of hypo-osmolarity upon transepithelial ion transport in cultured renal epithelial layers (MDCK)

Regulatory volume decrease after exposure to hypo-osmotic media in MDCK epithelial cells results from activation of both K+ and Cl- conductances. Swelling-stimulated 86Rb(K) losses were observed only across the basal-lateral membrane and were relatively insensitive to 10 mM Ba2+. The effect of hypo-osmotic media upon MDCK epithelia mounted in Ussing chambers has been investigated. Exposure of the basal-lateral surfaces to hypo-osmotic media resulted in a transient stimulation of inward short-circuit current (Isc) followed by inhibition of inward Isc in both control layers and in layers where inward current (due to transepithelial Cl- secretion) was first stimulated by 5 microM prostaglandin E1 (PGE1). The transient stimulation of inward current by hypo-osmotic media was not markedly attenuated by 10 mM Ba2+ in PGE1-stimulated layers. After stimulation of inward (Cl(-)-secretory) current to high levels by 10 microM adrenaline, the predominant effect of basal-lateral exposure to hypo-osmotic media was an inhibition of the inward current. This inhibition was partially reversed by 40 microM 4,4'-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulphonate (DIDS). The stimulation, then inhibition, of inward Isc is likely to be the result of separate swelling-induced K+ and Cl- conductances (respectively) at the basal-lateral membrane. The swelling-stimulated Cl- conductance is distinct from the apical Cl- conductance regulated by PGE1 or adrenaline.

Effect of bradykinin, ATP and adrenaline on cell membrane resistances of Madin-Darby canine kidney cells

1. Previous studies have shown that bradykinin, ATP and adrenaline hyperpolarize the cell membrane of Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells by activation of calcium-sensitive K+ channels. The present study has been performed to determine the effect of these hormones on the resistance of the cell membrane and the cellular coupling. To this end, cellular cable analysis has been performed. 2. As a result, all three hormones lead to the expected, marked decrease of cell membrane resistance. 3. However, the bradykinin-induced reduction of cell membrane resistance was sustained, contrasting with only transient hyperpolarization induced by bradykinin and only transient activation of the K+ channels. Thus, the cable analysis reveals the sustained activation of an additional conductance. 4. ATP, but not the other two hormones, leads to a delayed increase of the intercellular coupling resistances. 5. Prolonged exposure of the cells to adrenaline leads to oscillations of the cell membrane potential, apparently by oscillatory activation of the K+ channels.

Inhibition of ion conductances by osmotic shrinkage of Madin-Darby canine kidney cells

Osmotic swelling of Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells enhances the ion conductances of the cell membrane, which allows release of cellular ions and subsequent regulatory cell volume decrease. The present study has been performed to test whether cell shrinkage similarly affects the ion conductances of MDCK cell membranes. Increase of extracellular osmolarity by addition of 50 mM NaCl or 100 mM mannitol leads within 3 min to a hyperpolarization of the cell membrane, a marked increase of cell membrane resistance [by 223 +/- 38% (n = 8) and 228 +/- 21% (n = 5), respectively], as well as a moderate increase of the K+ selectivity of the cell membrane (by 37 +/- 13%, n = 9). Thus exposure to hypertonic extracellular fluid decreases the cell membrane conductances including the K+ conductance. Cell volume measurements reveal a regulatory cell volume increase, which is sensitive to both furosemide and dimethylamiloride. Extracellular ATP (10 microM), which activates calcium-sensitive K+ channels, hyperpolarizes the cell membrane close to the K+ equilibrium potential. The respective values are -69.9 +/- 3.1 mV (n = 9) in isotonic fluid, -79.4 +/- 1.8 mV (n = 9) within 3 min, and -76.4 +/- 1.8 mV (n = 7) within 16-h exposure to hypertonic extracellular fluid. This observation points to a sustained increase of intracellular K+ activity after exposure to hypertonic extracellular fluid.

Regulation of potassium conductance by prostaglandins in cultured renal epitheloid (Madin-Darby canine kidney) cells

Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells form arachidonic acid metabolites following stimulation of several hormones known to modify the ion conductances at the plasma membrane. The present study has been performed to elucidate the influence of arachidonic acid on the electrical properties of subconfluent MDCK cells. As a result, arachidonic acid (1 or 10 mumol/l) leads to a transient hyperpolarization of the cell membrane, followed by a transient depolarization and a second, sustained hyperpolarization. The effects are inhibited by cycloxygenase inhibitor indomethacin (1 mumol/l). The initial transient hyperpolarization is mimicked by prostaglandin E2 (PGE2, 0.1 mumol/l), the sustained hyperpolarization by both PGE2 (0.1 mumol/l) and PGF2 alpha (0.1 mumol/l). The transient hyperpolarization is paralleled by an increase of potassium selectivity and a decrease of cell membrane resistance and is thus the result of increased potassium conductance. The transient depolarization is paralleled by an increase of chloride selectivity, reflecting an increase of chloride conductance. The sustained hyperpolarization is paralleled by an increase of cell membrane resistance, and increase of potassium selectivity and a decrease of chloride selectivity, and is thus the result of decreasing chloride conductance. The observations reveal a role of prostaglandins in the regulation of ion conductances in MDCK cells, which could well participate in the transport regulation by hormones.

Further characterization of volume regulatory decrease in cultured renal epitheloid (MDCK) cells

In Madin Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells volume regulatory decrease (VRD) is paralleled by a variable, transient hyperpolarization followed by a sustained depolarization of the cell membrane. In the depolarized cells, the cell membrane selectivity is decreased for potassium and increased for chloride. Without knowledge of the cell membrane resistance (Rm), these changes of cell membrane selectivity cannot be translated into conductances, i.e. the observed alterations of ion selectivity could have been due to inhibition of potassium conductance or activation of anion conductance. In the present study Rm has been determined by cellular cable analysis. To this end, three microelectrodes were impaled into three different cells of a cell cluster, current (up to 3 nA) was injected into one cell and the corresponding voltage deflections determined in the other two cells. As a result, exposure of the cells to hypotonic perfusates leads to a marked, sustained reduction of Rm. In the absence of chloride and in the absence of bicarbonate and chloride, the decrease of Rm is only transient. The data indicate that cell swelling leads to a transient increase of potassium conductance followed by a sustained increase of anion conductance. As evident from BCECF fluorescence, exposure of MDCK cells to hypotonic perfusates leads to a significant decrease of intracellular pH, which may in part be due to loss of bicarbonate through the anion conductive pathway.