Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) confers glibenclamide sensitivity to outwardly rectifying chloride channel (ORCC) in Hi-5 insect cells

Enhancement of an outwardly rectifying chloride channel in hippocampal pyramidal neurons after cerebral ischemia

Cerebral ischemia induces delayed, selective neuronal death in the CA1 region of the hippocampus. The underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear, but it is known that apoptosis is involved in this process. Chloride efflux has been implicated in the progression of apoptosis in various cell types. Using both the inside-out and whole-cell configurations of the patch-clamp technique, the present study characterized an outwardly rectifying chloride channel (ORCC) in acutely dissociated pyramid neurons in the hippocampus of adult rats. The channel had a nonlinear current-voltage relationship with a conductance of 42.26±1.2pS in the positive voltage range and 18.23±0.96pS in the negative voltage range, indicating an outward rectification pattern. The channel is Cl(-) selective, and the open probability is voltage-dependent. It can be blocked by the classical Cl(-) channel blockers DIDS, SITS, NPPB and glibenclamide. We examined the different changes in ORCC activity in CA1 and CA3 pyramidal neurons at 6, 24 and 48h after transient forebrain ischemia. In the vulnerable CA1 neurons, ORCC activity was persistently enhanced after ischemic insult, whereas in the invulnerable CA3 neurons, no significant changes occurred. Further analysis of channel kinetics suggested that multiple openings are a major contributor to the increase in channel activity after ischemia. Pharmacological blockade of the ORCC partly attenuated cell death in the hippocampal neurons. We propose that the enhanced activity of ORCC might contribute to selective neuronal damage in the CA1 region after cerebral ischemia, and that ORCC may be a therapeutic target against ischemia-induced cell death.

Revisiting CFTR inhibition: a comparative study of CFTRinh -172 and GlyH-101 inhibitors

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

For decades, inhibitors of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) chloride channel have been used as tools to investigate the role and function of CFTR conductance in cystic fibrosis research. In the early 2000s, two new and potent inhibitors of CFTR, CFTR_inh-172 and GlyH-101, were described and are now widely used to inhibit specifically CFTR. However, despite some evidence, the effects of both drugs on other types of Cl⁻-conductance have been overlooked. In this context, we explore the specificity and the cellular toxicity of both inhibitors in CFTR-expressing and non–CFTR-expressing cells.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

Using patch-clamp technique, we tested the effects of CFTR_inh-172 and GlyH-101 inhibitors on three distinct types of Cl⁻ currents: the CFTR-like conductance, the volume-sensitive outwardly rectifying Cl⁻ conductance (VSORC) and finally the Ca²⁺-dependent Cl⁻ conductance (CaCC). We also explored the effect of both inhibitors on cell viability using live/dead and cell proliferation assays in two different cell lines.

KEY RESULTS

We confirmed that these two compounds were potent inhibitors of the CFTR-mediated Cl⁻ conductance. However,GlyH-101 also inhibited the VSORC conductance and the CaCC at concentrations used to inhibit CFTR. The CFTR_inh-172 did not affect the CaCC but did inhibit the VSORC, at concentrations higher than 5 µM. Neither inhibitor (20 µM; 24 h exposure) affected cell viability, but both were cytotoxic at higher concentrations.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Both inhibitors affected Cl⁻ conductances apart from CFTR. Our results provided insights into their use in mouse models.

An outwardly rectifying chloride channel in BeWo choriocarcinoma cell line

In this study, an outwardly rectifying chloride channel was characterized in the trophoblastic cell line BeWo, a human hormone-synthesizing cell which displays many biochemical and morphological properties similar to those reported for the human cytotrophoblast. Ion channel activity was recorded in the cell attached and inside-out configurations with standard patch-clamp technology. In most of the BeWo cells studied, the channel under symmetrical N-methyl-d-glucamine (NMDG-Cl) concentration (Na(+) free solution) in both sides of the membrane exhibited spontaneous activity, an outwardly rectifying current/voltage relationship and single-channel conductances of 15 pS and 48 pS for inwards and outwards currents, respectively. The channel has a low permeability for gluconate with a relative permeability P(gluconate)/P(Cl) of 0.23, and a higher permeability to I(-). The open probability (Po) of the channel exhibited dependence with the applied membrane potential with greater activity at positive pulses. The channel activity was inhibited by the sulphonylurea hypoglycemic agent glibenclamide (50 μM) or by diphenylamine-2-carboxylate (DPC, 500 μM) added to the cytoplasmic side of the patch whereas conductances remained unchanged. The blockade with glibenclamide and DPC was independent of the applied membrane potential. All these results are characteristic of the outwardly rectifying Cl channel (ORCC) found in other types of cells. Neither Po, conductances nor reversal potential (Er) values were affected by the absence of intracellular Ca(2+), suggesting that the channel is not sensitive to Ca(2+).

The H-loop in the second nucleotide-binding domain of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator is required for efficient chloride channel closing

The cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is an ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter that functions as a cAMP-activated chloride channel. The recent model of CFTR gating predicts that the ATP binding to both nucleotide-binding domains (NBD1 and NBD2) of CFTR is required for the opening of the channel, while the ATP hydrolysis at NBD2 induces subsequent channel closing. In most ABC proteins, efficient hydrolysis of ATP requires the presence of the invariant histidine residue within the H-loop located in the C-terminal part of the NBD. However, the contribution of the corresponding region (H-loop) of NBD2 to the CFTR channel gating has not been examined so far. Here we report that the alanine substitution of the conserved dipeptide HR motif (HR-->AA) in the H-loop of NBD2 leads to prolonged open states of CFTR channel, indicating that the H-loop is required for efficient channel closing. On the other hand, the HR-->AA substitution lead to the substantial decrease of CFTR-mediated current density (pA/pF) in transfected HEK 293 cells, as recorded in the whole-cell patch-clamp analysis. These results suggest that the H-loop of NBD2, apart from being required for CFTR channel closing, may be involved in regulating CFTR trafficking to the cell surface.

Modulation of human cardiovascular outward rectifying chloride channel by intra- and extracellular ATP

The macroscopic volume-regulated anion current (VRAC) is regulated by both intracellular and extracellular ATP, which has important implications in signaling and regulation of cellular excitability. The outwardly rectifying Cl(-) channel (ORCC) is a major contributor to the VRAC. This study investigated the effects of intracellular and extracellular ATP on the ORCCs expressed in the human cardiovascular system. With inside-out single-channel patch-clamp techniques, ORCCs were recorded from myocytes isolated from human atrium and septal ventricle and from primary cells originating from human coronary artery endothelium and human coronary artery smooth muscle. ORCCs from all of these tissues had similar biophysical properties, i.e., they were outwardly rectifying in symmetrical Cl(-) solutions, exhibited a slope conductance of approximately 90-100 pS at positive potentials and approximately 22 pS at negative potentials, and had a high open probability that was independent of voltage or time. The presence of ATP at the cytosolic face of the membrane increased the number of patches that contained functional ORCC but had no effect on gating. In contrast, "extracellular" ATP (in pipette solution) had no effect on the proportion of patches in which ORCC was detected but strongly reduced the open probability by increasing the closed dwell time. The potency order for nucleotides to affect gating was ATPgammaS > ATP = UTP > ADP > AMP, which suggests that a negatively charged phosphate group is involved in ORCC block. Our findings are consistent with a role of ORCC in the human cardiovasculature (atrium, ventricle, and coronary arteries). Regulation of ORCC by extracellular ATP suggests that this channel may have an important role in maintaining electrical activity and membrane potential under conditions in which extracellular ATP levels are elevated, such as with ATP release from nerve endings or during pathophysiological conditions.

Relationships between cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator, extracellular nucleotides and cystic fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is one of the most common lethal autosomal recessive genetic diseases in the Caucasian population, with a frequency of about 1 in 3000 livebirths. CF is due to a mutation in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene encoding the CFTR protein, a cyclic adenosine 5'-monophosphate (cAMP)-regulated chloride channel localized in the apical membrane of epithelial cells. CFTR is a multifunctional protein which, in addition to be a Cl-channel, is also a regulator of multiple ion channels and other proteins. In particular CFTR has been reported to play a role in the outflow of adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) from cells, but this remains controversial. Extracellular nucleotides are signaling molecules that regulate ion transport and mucociliary clearance by acting on P2 nucleotide receptors, in particular the P2Y(2) receptor. Nucleotides activating the P2Y(2) receptor represent thus one pharmacotherapeutic strategy to treat CF disease, via improvement of mucus hydration and mucociliary clearance in airways. Phase II clinical trials have recently shown that aerosolized denufosol (INS37217, Inspire(R)) improves pulmonary function in CF patients: denufosol was granted orphan drug status and phase III trials are planned. Here, we review what is known about the relationship between extracellular nucleotides and CFTR, the role of extracellular nucleotides in epithelial pathophysiology and their putative role as therapeutic agents.

Diversity of Cl(-) channels

Cl(-) channels are widely found anion pores that are regulated by a variety of signals and that play various roles. On the basis of molecular biologic findings, ligand-gated Cl(-) channels in synapses, cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductors (CFTRs) and ClC channel types have been established, followed by bestrophin and possibly by tweety, which encode Ca(2+)-activated Cl(-) channels. The ClC family has been shown to possess a variety of functions, including stabilization of membrane potential, excitation, cell-volume regulation, fluid transport, protein degradation in endosomal vesicles and possibly cell growth. The molecular structure of Cl(-) channel types varies from 1 to 12 transmembrane segments. By means of computer-based prediction, functional Cl(-) channels have been synthesized artificially, revealing that many possible ion pores are hidden in channel, transporter or unidentified hydrophobic membrane proteins. Thus, novel Cl(-)-conducting pores may be occasionally discovered, and evidence from molecular biologic studies will clarify their physiologic and pathophysiologic roles.

Steady-state interactions of glibenclamide with CFTR: evidence for multiple sites in the pore

The objective of the present study was to clarify the mechanism by which the sulfonylurea drug, glibenclamide, inhibits single CFTR channels in excised patches from Xenopus oocytes. Glibenclamide blocks the open pore of the channel via binding at multiple sites with varying kinetics. In the absence of glibenclamide, open-channel bursts exhibited a flickery intraburst closed state (C1); this is due to block of the pore by the pH buffer, TES. Application of 25 microM glibenclamide to the cytoplasmic solution resulted in the appearance of two drug-induced intraburst closed states (C2, C3) of widely different duration, which differed in pH-dependence. The kinetics of interaction with the C3 state, but not the C2 state, were strongly voltage-dependent. The durations of both the C2 and C3 states were concentration-dependent, indicating a non-linear reaction scheme. Application of drug also increased the burst duration, which is consistent with an open-channel blocking mechanism. A kinetic model is proposed. These results indicate that glibenclamide interacts with open CFTR channels in a complex manner, involving interactions with multiple binding sites in the channel pore.

Negative regulation of CFTR activity by extracellular ATP involves P2Y2 receptors in CFTR-expressing CHO cells

Extracellular nucleotides exert autocrine/ paracrine effects on ion transport by activating P2 receptors. We studied the effects of extracellular ATP and UTP on the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) channel stably expressed in Chinese Hamster Ovary cells (CHO-BQI cells). CFTR activity was measured using the (125I) iodide efflux technique and whole-cell patch-clamp recording in response to either forskolin or xanthine derivatives. Using RT-PCR and intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) measurement, we showed that CHO-BQI cells express P2Y2 but not P2Y4 receptors. While ATP and UTP induced similar increases in [Ca2+]i, pre-addition by one of these two agonists desensitized the response for the other, suggesting that ATP- and UTP-induced [Ca2+]i increases were mediated by a common receptor, which was identified as the P2Y2 subtype. CFTR activity was reduced by ATP and UTP but not by ADP or adenosine applications. This inhibitory effect of ATP on CFTR activity was not due to a change in cAMP level. Furthermore, CFTR activation by forskolin or IBMX failed to promote [Ca2+]i increase, suggesting that CFTR activation did not generate an ATP release large enough to stimulate P2Y2 receptors. Taken together, our results show that endogenous P2Y2 receptor activation downregulates CFTR activity in a cAMP-independent manner in CHO cells.

Pharmacotherapy of the ion transport defect in cystic fibrosis: role of purinergic receptor agonists and other potential therapeutics

Cystic fibrosis (CF), is an autosomal recessive disease frequently seen in the Caucasian population. It is caused by mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. CF is characterized by enhanced airway Na(+) absorption, mediated by epithelial Na(+) channels (ENaC), and deficient Cl(-) transport. In addition, other mechanisms may contribute to the pathophysiological changes in the CF lung, such as defective regulation of HCO(3)(-) secretion. In other epithelial tissues, epithelial Na(+) conductance is either increased (intestine) or decreased (sweat duct) in CF. CFTR is a cyclic AMP-regulated epithelial Cl(-) channel, and appears to control the activity of several other transport proteins. Accordingly, defective epithelial ion transport in CF is likely to be a combination of defective Cl(-) channel function and impaired regulator function of CFTR, which in turn is linked to impaired mucociliary clearance and development of chronic lung disease. As the clinical course of CF is determined primarily by progressive lung disease, novel pharmacological strategies for the treatment of CF focus on correction of the ion transport defect in the airways. In recent years, it has been demonstrated that activation of purinergic receptors in airway epithelia by extracellular nucleotides (adenosine triphosphate/uridine triphosphate) has beneficial effects on mucus clearance in CF. Activation of the dominant class of metabotropic purinergic receptors, P2Y(2) receptors, appears to have a 2-fold benefit on ion transport in CF airways; excessive Na(+) absorption is attenuated, most likely by inhibition of the ENaC and, simultaneously, an alternative Ca(2+)-dependent Cl(-) channel is activated that may compensate for the CFTR Cl(-) channel defect. Thus activation of P2Y(2) receptors is expected to lead to improved hydration of the airway surface liquid in CF. Furthermore, purinergic activation has been shown to promote other components of mucociliary clearance such as ciliary beat frequency and mucus secretion. Clinical trials are under way to test the effect of synthetic purinergic compounds, such as the P2Y(2) receptor agonist INS37217, on the progression of lung disease in patients with CF. Administration of these compounds alone, or in combination with other drugs that inhibit accelerated Na(+) transport and help recover or increase residual activity of mutant CFTR, is most promising as successful therapy to counteract the ion transport defect in the airways of CF patients.

Molecular structure and physiological function of chloride channels

Cl- channels reside both in the plasma membrane and in intracellular organelles. Their functions range from ion homeostasis to cell volume regulation, transepithelial transport, and regulation of electrical excitability. Their physiological roles are impressively illustrated by various inherited diseases and knock-out mouse models. Thus the loss of distinct Cl- channels leads to an impairment of transepithelial transport in cystic fibrosis and Bartter's syndrome, to increased muscle excitability in myotonia congenita, to reduced endosomal acidification and impaired endocytosis in Dent's disease, and to impaired extracellular acidification by osteoclasts and osteopetrosis. The disruption of several Cl- channels in mice results in blindness. Several classes of Cl- channels have not yet been identified at the molecular level. Three molecularly distinct Cl- channel families (CLC, CFTR, and ligand-gated GABA and glycine receptors) are well established. Mutagenesis and functional studies have yielded considerable insights into their structure and function. Recently, the detailed structure of bacterial CLC proteins was determined by X-ray analysis of three-dimensional crystals. Nonetheless, they are less well understood than cation channels and show remarkably different biophysical and structural properties. Other gene families (CLIC or CLCA) were also reported to encode Cl- channels but are less well characterized. This review focuses on molecularly identified Cl- channels and their physiological roles.

Non-synaptic ion channels in insects--basic properties of currents and their modulation in neurons and skeletal muscles

Insects are favoured objects for studying information processing in restricted neuronal networks, e.g. motor pattern generation or sensory perception. The analysis of the underlying processes requires knowledge of the electrical properties of the cells involved. These properties are determined by the expression pattern of ionic channels and by the regulation of their function, e.g. by neuromodulators. We here review the presently available knowledge on insect non-synaptic ion channels and ionic currents in neurons and skeletal muscles. The first part of this article covers genetic and structural informations, the localization of channels, their electrophysiological and pharmacological properties, and known effects of second messengers and modulators such as neuropeptides or biogenic amines. In a second part we describe in detail modulation of ionic currents in three particularly well investigated preparations, i.e. Drosophila photoreceptor, cockroach DUM (dorsal unpaired median) neuron and locust jumping muscle. Ion channel structures are almost exclusively known for the fruitfly Drosophila, and most of the information on their function has also been obtained in this animal, mainly based on mutational analysis and investigation of heterologously expressed channels. Now the entire genome of Drosophila has been sequenced, it seems almost completely known which types of channel genes--and how many of them--exist in this animal. There is much knowledge of the various types of channels formed by 6-transmembrane--spanning segments (6TM channels) including those where four 6TM domains are joined within one large protein (e.g. classical Na+ channel). In comparison, two TM channels and 4TM (or tandem) channels so far have hardly been explored. There are, however, various well characterized ionic conductances, e.g. for Ca2+, Cl- or K+, in other insect preparations for which the channels are not yet known. In some of the larger insects, i.e. bee, cockroach, locust and moth, rather detailed information has been established on the role of ionic currents in certain physiological or behavioural contexts. On the whole, however, knowledge of non-synaptic ion channels in such insects is still fragmentary. Modulation of ion currents usually involves activation of more or less elaborate signal transduction cascades. The three detailed examples for modulation presented in the second part indicate, amongst other things, that one type of modulator usually leads to concerted changes of several ion currents and that the effects of different modulators in one type of cell may overlap. Modulators participate in the adaptive changes of the various cells responsible for different physiological or behavioural states. Further study of their effects on the single cell level should help to understand how small sets of cells cooperate in order to produce the appropriate output.

Permeation through the CFTR chloride channel

The cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein forms a Cl(−) channel found in the plasma membranes of many epithelial cells, including those of the kidney, gut and conducting airways. Mutation of the gene encoding CFTR is the primary defect in cystic fibrosis, a disease that affects approximately 30 000 individuals in the United States alone. Alteration of CFTR function also plays an important role in the pathophysiology of secretory diarrhea and polycystic kidney disease. The basic mechanisms of permeation in this channel are not well understood. It is not known which portions of the protein contribute to forming the pore or which amino acid residues in those domains are involved in the biophysical processes of ion permeation. In this review, I will discuss (i) the present understanding of ion transport processes in the wild-type CFTR channel, (ii) the experimental approaches currently being applied to investigate the pore, and (iii) a proposed structure that takes into account the present data on mechanisms of ion selectivity in the CFTR channel and on blockade of the pore by open-channel blockers.