The control of ion channels and pumps in exocrine acinar cells

Electrical properties and cell-to-cell communication of the salivary gland cells of the snail, Helix pomatia

The aim of the present study was to assess the cellular mechanism of secretion in the salivary gland of the snail, Helix pomatia, using electrophysiological, electron microscopic and immunohistochemical techniques. A homogeneously distributed membrane potential (-56.6 +/- 9.8 mV) was determined mainly by a K+ -electrochemical gradient and partly by the contribution of the electrogenic Na+ -pump and Cl- conductance. Low resistance electrical coupling sites were identified physiologically. Transmission electron microscopy and innexin 2 antibody revealed the presence of gap-junction-like membrane structures between gland cells. It is suggested that gap-junctions are sites of electrotonic intercellular communication, which integrate the gland cells into a synchronized functional unit in the acinus. Stimulation of the salivary nerve elicited secretory potentials (depolarization) which could be mimicked by local application of acetylcholine, dopamine or serotonin. In voltage-clamp experiments four major conductances were identified: a delayed rectifier (IK), a transient (IA) and a Ca2+ -activated outward K+ current (IK(Ca)) and Ca2+ -inward currents (ICa). It is suggested that one or more of these conductances may give rise to a stimulus activated secretory potential leading to excitation-secretion coupling and subsequent the release of the mucus from the gland cells.

Cloning and characterization of a putative human serine/threonine protein kinase transcriptionally modified during anisotonic and isotonic alterations of cell volume

Hepatic metabolism and gene expression are among other regulatory mechanisms controlled by the cellular hydration state, which changes rapidly in response to anisotonicity, concentrative substrate uptake, oxidative stress, and under the influence of hormones such as insulin and glucagon. Differential screening for cell volume sensitive transcripts in a human hepatoma cell line revealed a gene for a putative serine/threonine kinase, h-sgk, which has 98% sequence identity to a serum- and glucocorticoid regulated kinase, sgk, cloned from a rat mammary tumor cell line. h-sgk transcript levels were strongly altered during anisotonic and isotonic cell volume changes. Within 30 min h-sgk RNA was, independent of de novo protein synthesis, induced upon cell shrinkage and, due to a complete stop in h-sgk transcription, reduced upon cell swelling. Comparable changes of sgk transcript levels were observed in a renal epithelial cell line. h-sgk mRNA was detected in all human tissues tested, with the highest levels in pancreas, liver, and heart. The putative serine/threonine protein kinase h-sgk may provide a functional link between the cellular hydration state and metabolic control.

Membrane mechanisms and intracellular signalling in cell volume regulation

Recent work on selected aspects of the cellular and molecular physiology of cell volume regulation is reviewed. First, the physiological significance of the regulation of cell volume is discussed. Membrane transporters involved in cell volume regulation are reviewed, including volume-sensitive K+ and Cl- channels, K+, Cl- and Na+, K+, 2Cl- cotransporters, and the Na+, H+, Cl-, HCO3-, and K+, H+ exchangers. The role of amino acids, particularly taurine, as cellular osmolytes is discussed. Possible mechanisms by which cells sense their volumes, along with the sensors of these signals, are discussed. The signals are mechanical changes in the membrane and changes in macromolecular crowding. Sensors of these signals include stretch-activated channels, the cytoskeleton, and specific membrane or cytoplasmic enzymes. Mechanisms for transduction of the signal from sensors to transporters are reviewed. These include the Ca(2+)-calmodulin system, phospholipases, polyphosphoinositide metabolism, eicosanoid metabolism, and protein kinases and phosphatases. A detailed model is presented for the swelling-initiated signal transduction pathway in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells. Finally, the coordinated control of volume-regulatory transport processes and changes in the expression of organic osmolyte transporters with long-term adaptation to osmotic stress are reviewed briefly.

Molecular mechanisms for passive and active transport of water

Water crosses cell membranes by passive transport and by secondary active cotransport along with ions. While the first concept is well established, the second is new. The two modes of transport allow cellular H2O homeostasis to be viewed as a balance between H2O leaks and H2O pumps. Consequently, cells can be hyperosmolar relative to their surroundings during steady states. Under physiological conditions, cells from leaky epithelia may be hyperosmolar by roughly 5 mosm liter-1, under dilute conditions, hyperosmolarities up to 40 mosm liter-1 have been recorded. Most intracellular H2O is free to serve as solvent for small inorganic ions. The mechanism of transport across the membrane depends on how H2O interacts with the proteinaceous or lipoid pathways. Osmotic transport of H2O through specific H2O channels such as CHIP 28 is hydraulic if the pore is impermeable to the solute and diffusive if the pore is permeable. Cotransport of ions and H2O can be a result of conformational changes in proteins, which in addition to ion transport also translocate H2O bound to or occlude in the protein. A cellular model of a leaky epithelium based on H2O leaks and H2O pumps quantitatively predicts a number of so-far unexplained observations of H2O transport.

Electrophysiological effects of extracellular ATP on Necturus gallbladder epithelium

The effects of addition of ATP to the mucosal bathing solution on transepithelial, apical, and basolateral membrane voltages and resistances in Necturus gallbladder epithelium were determined. Mucosal ATP (100 microM) caused a rapid hyperpolarization of both apical (Vmc) and basolateral (Vcs) cell membrane voltages (delta Vm = 18 +/- 1 mV), a fall in transepithelial resistance (Rt) from 142 +/- 8 to 122 +/- 7 omega.cm2, and a decrease in fractional apical membrane resistance (fRa) from 0.93 +/- 0.02 to 0.83 +/- 0.03. The rapid initial hyperpolarization of Vmc and Vcs was followed by a slower depolarization of cell membrane voltages and a lumen-negative change in transepithelial voltage (Vms). This phase also included an additional decrease in fRa. Removal of the ATP caused a further depolarization of membrane voltages followed by a hyperpolarization and then a return to control values. fRa fell to a minimum after removal of ATP and then returned to control values as the cell membrane voltages repolarized. Similar responses could be elicited by ADP but not by adenosine. The results of two-point cable experiments revealed that ATP induced an initial increase in cell membrane conductance followed by a decrease. Transient elevations of mucosal solution [K+] induced a larger depolarization of Vmc and Vcs during exposure to ATP than under control conditions. Reduction of mucosal solution [Cl-] induced a slow hyperpolarization of Vmc and Vcs before exposure to ATP and a rapid depolarization during exposure to ATP. We conclude that ATP4- is the active agent and that it causes a concentration-dependent increase in apical and basolateral membrane K+ permeability. In addition, an apical membrane electrodiffusive Cl- permeability is activated by ATP4-.

Chloride transport across the membrane of parotid secretory granules

The Cl- transport pathways in secretory granules isolated from the parotid glands of rats were characterized by the technique of ionophore-induced lysis in defined salt solutions. The granules were shown to possess a Cl- conductance that exhibited a distinct anion selectivity with a sequence I- greater than Br- greater than Cl- greater than F- greater than SO4(2-) much greater than gluconate-. This conductance could be reduced approximately 40% by the stilbene 4-acetamido-4'-isothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (SITS) from the cytoplasmic side; the half-maximal concentration for inhibition was 50 microM. Furthermore, the apparent Cl- conductance was reduced by outwardly directed granule H+ gradients and stimulated by inwardly directed gradients. An outwardly directed H+ gradient mimics the in vivo environment and may serve in a regulatory capacity, providing for a tonic inhibition of transport until the granule fuses with the luminal membrane. The granules also possessed a Cl(-)-HCO3- exchange based on electroneutrality of Cl- uptake and stimulation of this uptake by HCO3-. This pathway displayed a different anion selectivity, I- greater than Br- greater than F- greater than Cl- much greater than SO4(2-) much greater than gluconate-, and was not inhibited by SITS on the cytoplasmic side. The presence of these electrolyte transport pathways in the granule membrane is consistent with the production of primary fluid by parotid acinar cells after fusion of granules with the luminal plasma membrane.

Isotonic secretion via frog skin glands in vitro. Water secretion is coupled to the secretion of sodium ions

In isolated frog skin at least three different types of cells are engaged in the transepithelial ion and water transport; these are the granular cells, the mitochondria-rich cells and the glandular cells. The experiments presented were carried out on isolated frog skin bathed in Cl- or NO3- Ringer's solution, where the active transepithelial Na+ uptake via the granular cells was blocked by amiloride. Transepithelial current and water flow were measured. When a negative current was passed across the skins (the skins were clamped at -100 mV), the current was mainly carried by a net influx of Cl- via the mitochondria-rich cells. The current had no effect on the transepithelial water movement. This finding indicates that there is nearly no coupling between the Cl- flux and the movement of water via the mitochondria-rich cells. Prostaglandin E2 activates the glandular cells of the exocrine glands in the skin. When prostaglandin E2 was added under these experimental conditions (the skins were clamped at -100 mV, with amiloride in the apical bathing solution, and the glandular secretion of ions was blocked by the use of NO3- Ringer's solution), then the transepithelial current became more negative. This change in current was mainly due to an increase in the Na+ efflux via the glands. Thus PGE2 increase the Na+ conductance of the skin glands. Together with this increase in the Na+ efflux a highly significant increase in the water secretion was observed. The water movement (secretion) across the skin was under these conditions coupled to the PGE2-induced efflux of Na+, and when one Na+ was pulled from the basolateral to the apical solution via this pathway 215 molecules of water followed. This must be due to electro-osmosis (friction between ions and water) or current-induced local osmosis.

Prostaglandin E2 enhances the sodium conductance of exocrine glands in isolated frog skin (Rana esculenta)

Prostaglandins are known to stimulate the active transepithelial Na+ uptake and the active secretion of Cl- from the glands of isolated frog skin. In the present work the effect of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) on the glandular Na+ conductance was examined. In order to avoid interference from the Na+ uptake and the glandular Cl- secretion the experiments were carried out on skins where the Cl- secretion was inhibited (the skins were bathed in Cl- Ringer's solution in the presence of furosemide, or in NO3- Ringer's solution), and the active Na+ uptake was blocked by the addition of amiloride. Transepithelial current, water flow and ion fluxes were measured. A negative current was passed across the skins (the skins were clamped at -100 mV, basolateral solution was taken as reference). When PGE2 was added to the skins under these experimental conditions, the current became more negative; this was mainly due to an increase in the Na+ efflux. Together with the increase in Na+ efflux a significant increase of the water secretion was observed. The water secretion was coupled to the efflux of Na+, and when one Na+ was pulled from the basolateral to the apical solution via this pathway 230 molecules of water followed. From the data presented it is suggested that this pathway for Na+ is confined to the exocrine glands.