Impaired activity of volume-sensitive anion channel during lactacidosis-induced swelling in neuronally differentiated NG108-15 cells

The expanding toolbox to study the LRRC8-formed volume-regulated anion channel VRAC

The volume-regulated anion channel (VRAC) is activated upon cell swelling and facilitates the passive movement of anions across the plasma membrane in cells. VRAC function underlies many critical homeostatic processes in vertebrate cells. Among them are the regulation of cell volume and membrane potential, glutamate release and apoptosis. VRAC is also permeable for organic osmolytes and metabolites including some anti-cancer drugs and antibiotics. Therefore, a fundamental understanding of VRAC's structure-function relationships, its physiological roles, its utility for therapy of diseases, and the development of compounds modulating its activity are important research frontiers. Here, we describe approaches that have been applied to study VRAC since it was first described more than 30 years ago, providing an overview of the recent methodological progress. The diverse applications reflecting a compromise between the physiological situation, biochemical definition, and biophysical resolution range from the study of VRAC activity using a classic electrophysiology approach, to the measurement of osmolytes transport by various means and the investigation of its activation using a novel biophysical approach based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer.

Cell Death Induction and Protection by Activation of Ubiquitously Expressed Anion/Cation Channels. Part 2: Functional and Molecular Properties of ASOR/PAC Channels and Their Roles in Cell Volume Dysregulation and Acidotoxic Cell Death

For survival and functions of animal cells, cell volume regulation (CVR) is essential. Major hallmarks of necrotic and apoptotic cell death are persistent cell swelling and shrinkage, and thus they are termed the necrotic volume increase (NVI) and the apoptotic volume decrease (AVD), respectively. A number of ubiquitously expressed anion and cation channels play essential roles not only in CVR but also in cell death induction. This series of review articles address the question how cell death is induced or protected with using ubiquitously expressed ion channels such as swelling-activated anion channels, acid-activated anion channels, and several types of TRP cation channels including TRPM2 and TRPM7. In the Part 1, we described the roles of swelling-activated VSOR/VRAC anion channels. Here, the Part 2 focuses on the roles of the acid-sensitive outwardly rectifying (ASOR) anion channel, also called the proton-activated chloride (PAC) anion channel, which is activated by extracellular protons in a manner sharply dependent on ambient temperature. First, we summarize phenotypical properties, the molecular identity, and the three-dimensional structure of ASOR/PAC. Second, we highlight the unique roles of ASOR/PAC in CVR dysfunction and in the induction of or protection from acidotoxic cell death under acidosis and ischemic conditions.

Cell Death Induction and Protection by Activation of Ubiquitously Expressed Anion/Cation Channels. Part 1: Roles of VSOR/VRAC in Cell Volume Regulation, Release of Double-Edged Signals and Apoptotic/Necrotic Cell Death

Cell volume regulation (CVR) is essential for survival and functions of animal cells. Actually, normotonic cell shrinkage and swelling are coupled to apoptotic and necrotic cell death and thus called the apoptotic volume decrease (AVD) and the necrotic volume increase (NVI), respectively. A number of ubiquitously expressed anion and cation channels are involved not only in CVD but also in cell death induction. This series of review articles address the question how cell death is induced or protected with using ubiquitously expressed ion channels such as swelling-activated anion channels, acid-activated anion channels and several types of TRP cation channels including TRPM2 and TRPM7. The Part 1 focuses on the roles of the volume-sensitive outwardly rectifying anion channels (VSOR), also called the volume-regulated anion channel (VRAC), which is activated by cell swelling or reactive oxygen species (ROS) in a manner dependent on intracellular ATP. First we describe phenotypical properties, the molecular identity, and physical pore dimensions of VSOR/VRAC. Second, we highlight the roles of VSOR/VRAC in the release of organic signaling molecules, such as glutamate, glutathione, ATP and cGAMP, that play roles as double-edged swords in cell survival. Third, we discuss how VSOR/VRAC is involved in CVR and cell volume dysregulation as well as in the induction of or protection from apoptosis, necrosis and regulated necrosis under pathophysiological conditions.

Hypoxia Modulates the Swelling-Activated Cl Current in Human Glioblastoma Cells: Role in Volume Regulation and Cell Survival

The malignancy of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the most common human brain tumor, correlates with the presence of hypoxic areas, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. GBM cells express abundant Cl channels whose activity supports cell volume and membrane potential changes, ultimately leading to cell proliferation, migration, and escaping death. In non-tumor tissues Cl channels are modulated by hypoxia, which prompted us to verify whether hypoxia would also modulate Cl channels in GBM cells. Our results show that in GBM cell lines, acute application of a hypoxic solution activates a Cl current displaying the biophysical and pharmacological features of the swelling-activated Cl current (ICl,swell ). We also found that acute hypoxia increased the cell volume by about 20%, and a 30% hypertonic solution partially inhibited the hypoxia-activated Cl current, suggesting that cell swelling and the activation of the Cl current are sequential events. Notably, the hypoxia-induced cell swelling was followed by a regulatory volume decrease (RVD) mediated mainly by ICl,swell . Since, a hypoxia-induced prolonged cell swelling is usually regarded as a death insult, we hypothesized that the hypoxia-activated Cl current could limit cell swelling and prevent necrotic death of GBM cells under hypoxic conditions. In accordance, we found that the ICl,swell inhibitor DCPIB hampered the RVD process, and more importantly it sensibly increased the hypoxia-induced necrotic death in these cells. Taken together, these results suggest that Cl channels are strongly involved in the survival of GBM cells in a hypoxic environment, and may thus represent a new therapeutic target for this malignant tumor. J. Cell. Physiol. 232: 91-100, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Fluid transport by the cornea endothelium is dependent on buffering lactic acid efflux

Maintenance of corneal hydration is dependent on the active transport properties of the corneal endothelium. We tested the hypothesis that lactic acid efflux, facilitated by buffering, is a component of the endothelial fluid pump. Rabbit corneas were perfused with bicarbonate-rich (BR) or bicarbonate-free (BF) Ringer of varying buffering power, while corneal thickness was measured. Perfusate was collected and analyzed for lactate efflux. In BF with no added HEPES, the maximal corneal swelling rate was 30.0 ± 4.1 μm/h compared with 5.2 ± 0.9 μm/h in BR. Corneal swelling decreased directly with [HEPES], such that with 60 mM HEPES corneas swelled at 7.5 ± 1.6 μm/h. Perfusate [lactate] increased directly with [HEPES]. Similarly, reducing the [HCO3 (-)] increased corneal swelling and decreased lactate efflux. Corneal swelling was inversely related to Ringer buffering power (β), whereas lactate efflux was directly related to β. Ouabain (100 μM) produced maximal swelling and reduction in lactate efflux, whereas carbonic anhydrase inhibition and an monocarboxylic acid transporter 1 inhibitor produced intermediate swelling and decreases in lactate efflux. Conversely, 10 μM adenosine reduced the swelling rate to 4.2 ± 0.8 μm/h and increased lactate efflux by 25%. We found a strong inverse relation between corneal swelling and lactate efflux (r = 0.98, P < 0.0001). Introducing lactate in the Ringer transiently increased corneal thickness, reaching a steady state (0 ± 0.6 μm/h) within 90 min. We conclude that corneal endothelial function does not have an absolute requirement for bicarbonate; rather it requires a perfusing solution with high buffering power. This facilitates lactic acid efflux, which is directly linked to water efflux, indicating that lactate flux is a component of the corneal endothelial pump.

Vasopressin Hypersecretion-Associated Brain Edema Formation in Ischemic Stroke: Underlying Mechanisms

BACKGROUND

Brain edema formation is a major cause of brain damages and the high mortality of ischemic stroke. The aim of this review is to explore the relationship between ischemic brain edema formation and vasopressin (VP) hypersecretion in addition to the oxygen and glucose deprivation and the ensuing reperfusion injury.

METHODS

Pertinent studies involving ischemic stroke, brain edema formation, astrocytes, and VP were identified by a search of the PubMed and the Web of Science databases in January 2016. Based on clinical findings and reports of animal experiments using ischemic stroke models, this systematic review reanalyzes the implication of individual reports in the edema formation and then establishes the inherent links among them.

RESULTS

This systematic review reveals that cytotoxic edema and vasogenic brain edema in classical view are mainly under the influence of a continuous malfunction of astrocytic plasticity. Adaptive VP secretion can modulate membrane ion transport, water permeability, and blood-brain barrier integrity, which are largely via changing astrocytic plasticity. Maladaptive VP hypersecretion leads to disruptions of ion and water balance across cell membranes as well as the integrity of the blood-brain barrier. This review highlights our current understandings of the cellular mechanisms underlying ischemic brain edema formation and its association with VP hypersecretion.

CONCLUSIONS

VP hypersecretion promotes brain edema formation in ischemic stroke by disrupting hydromineral balance in the neurovascular unit; suppressing VP hypersecretion has the potential to alleviate ischemic brain edema.

P2X4 activation modulates volume-sensitive outwardly rectifying chloride channels in rat hepatoma cells

Volume-sensitive outwardly rectifying (VSOR) Cl(-) channels are critical for the regulatory volume decrease (RVD) response triggered upon cell swelling. Recent evidence indicates that H(2)O(2) plays an essential role in the activation of these channels and that H(2)O(2) per se activates the channels under isotonic isovolumic conditions. However, a significant difference in the time course for current onset between H(2)O(2)-induced and hypotonicity-mediated VSOR Cl(-) activation is observed. In several cell types, cell swelling induced by hypotonic challenges triggers the release of ATP to the extracellular medium, which in turn, activates purinergic receptors and modulates cell volume regulation. In this study, we have addressed the effect of purinergic receptor activation on H(2)O(2)-induced and hypotonicity-mediated VSOR Cl(-) current activation. Here we show that rat hepatoma cells (HTC) exposed to a 33% hypotonic solution responded by rapidly activating VSOR Cl(-) current and releasing ATP to the extracellular medium. In contrast, cells exposed to 200 microm H(2)O(2) VSOR Cl(-) current onset was significantly slower, and ATP release was not detected. In cells exposed to either 11% hypotonicity or 200 microm H(2)O(2), exogenous addition of ATP in the presence of extracellular Ca(2+) resulted in a decrease in the half-time for VSOR Cl(-) current onset. Conversely, in cells that overexpress a dominant-negative mutant of the ionotropic receptor P2X4 challenged with a 33% hypotonic solution, the half-time for VSOR Cl(-) current onset was significantly slowed down. Our results indicate that, at high hypotonic imbalances, swelling-induced ATP release activates the purinergic receptor P2X4, which in turn modulates the time course of VSOR Cl(-) current onset in a extracellular Ca(2+)-dependent manner.

A role for the volume regulated anion channel in volume regulation in the murine CNS cell line, CAD

AIM

The role of the volume regulated anion channel (VRAC) in a model CNS neuronal cell line, CAD, was investigated.

METHODS

Changes in cell volume following hypotonic challenges were measured using a video-imaging technique. The effect of the Cl(-) channel antagonists tamoxifen (10 microm) and 4,4'-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulphonic acid (DIDS; 100 microm) on regulatory volume decrease (RVD) were measured. The whole-cell voltage-clamp technique was used to characterize ICl(swell), the current underlying the VRAC.

RESULTS

Using the video-imaging technique, CAD cells were found to swell and subsequently exhibit RVD when subjected to a sustained hypotonic challenge from 300 mOsmol kg(-1) H(2)O to 210 mOsmol kg(-1) H(2)O. In the presence of tamoxifen (10 microm) or DIDS (100 microm) RVD was abolished, suggesting a role for the VRAC. A hypotonic solution (230 mOsmol kg(-1) H(2)O) evoked ICl(swell), an outwardly rectifying current displaying time-independent activation, which reversed upon return to isotonic conditions. The reversal potential (E(rev)) for ICl(swell) was -14.7 + or - 1.4 mV, similar to the theoretical E(rev) for a selective Cl(-) conductance. ICl(swell) was inhibited in the presence of DIDS (100 microm) and tamoxifen (10 microm), the DIDS inhibition being voltage dependent.

CONCLUSIONS

Osmotic swelling elicits an outwardly rectifying Cl(-) conductance in CAD cells. The ICl(swell) observed in these cells is similar to that observed in other cells, and is likely to provide a pathway for the loss of Cl(-) which leads to water loss and RVD. As ischaemia, brain trauma, hypoxia and other brain pathologies can cause cell swelling, CAD cells represent a model cell line for the study of neuronal cell volume regulation.

Role of acid-sensitive outwardly rectifying anion channels in acidosis-induced cell death in human epithelial cells

Recently, a novel type of anion channel activated by extracellular acidification has been found in a variety of mammalian cell types. However, the role of this acid-sensitive outwardly rectifying (ASOR) anion channel is not known. In human epithelial HeLa cells, reduction in extracellular pH below 5 rapidly activated anion-selective whole-cell currents. The currents exhibited strong outward rectification, activation kinetics at positive potentials, low-field anion selectivity, and sensitivity to 4,4'-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (DIDS) and phloretin. When outside-out patches were exposed to acidic bathing solution, single-channel events of the anion channel could be observed. The unitary conductance was 4.8 pS in the voltage range between -80 and +80 mV. The single-channel activity prominently increased with depolarization and was suppressed by DIDS or phloretin. After 1-h incubation in acidic solution (pH 4.5), a significant population of HeLa cells suffered from necrotic cell injury characterized by stainability with propidium iodide and lack of caspase-3 activation. Upon exposure to acidic solution, HeLa cells exhibited immediate, persistent swelling. Both the necrotic volume increase and cell injury induced by extracellular acidification were inhibited by DIDS or phloretin. Therefore, it is concluded that the ASOR anion channel is involved in the genesis of necrotic cell injury induced by acidosis in human epithelial cells.

ATP release via anion channels

ATP serves not only as an energy source for all cell types but as an 'extracellular messenger' for autocrine and paracrine signalling. It is released from the cell via several different purinergic signal efflux pathways. ATP and its Mg(2+) and/or H(+) salts exist in anionic forms at physiological pH and may exit cells via some anion channel if the pore physically permits this. In this review we survey experimental data providing evidence for and against the release of ATP through anion channels. CFTR has long been considered a probable pathway for ATP release in airway epithelium and other types of cells expressing this protein, although non-CFTR ATP currents have also been observed. Volume-sensitive outwardly rectifying (VSOR) chloride channels are found in virtually all cell types and can physically accommodate or even permeate ATP(4-) in certain experimental conditions. However, pharmacological studies are controversial and argue against the actual involvement of the VSOR channel in significant release of ATP. A large-conductance anion channel whose open probability exhibits a bell-shaped voltage dependence is also ubiquitously expressed and represents a putative pathway for ATP release. This channel, called a maxi-anion channel, has a wide nanoscopic pore suitable for nucleotide transport and possesses an ATP-binding site in the middle of the pore lumen to facilitate the passage of the nucleotide. The maxi-anion channel conducts ATP and displays a pharmacological profile similar to that of ATP release in response to osmotic, ischemic, hypoxic and salt stresses. The relation of some other channels and transporters to the regulated release of ATP is also discussed.

Bax-regulated mitochondria-mediated apoptosis is responsible for the in vitro ischemia induced neuronal cell death of Sprague Dawley rat

An in vitro ischemia model was used to determine the molecular mechanisms responsible for the ischemia-induced neuronal cell death. Additionally, the neuronal protective mechanisms of anti-apoptotic drugs against ischemia were also evaluated. In this study, the primary neuronal cultures were incubated in an anoxic chamber with 95% of N2 and 5% of CO2 for various times. The death rate, degree of the apoptotic damage, reduction of mitochondrial membrane potential, translocation of Bax, release of cytochrome C and activation of caspase-9 and -3 were determined at each time point. Results showed that a Bax-regulated mitochondria- mediated apoptosis is responsible for the in vitro ischemia-induced neuronal death. Reduction in mitochondrial membrane potential plays no role in triggering this apoptosis. Furthermore, the anti-apoptotic drugs: furosemide (a Bax blocker) and ZVAD-fmk (caspase inhibitor) but not cyclosporine A (a MPT pore blocker), significantly protected the neurons against ischemia-induced damage. This provides an additional consideration in the future selection of new anti-ischemic drugs.

Novel method for quantification of brain cell swelling in rat hippocampal slices

We have developed a novel device for the quantification of edematous morphology changes in acute brain slices. We can also carry out real-time monitoring of detailed hippocampal cells. The device we developed is based on infrared differential interference contrast microscopy (IR-DIC) and a custom-made real-time computerized image-analysis system for quantification of the morphological dynamics of cells in slice preparations. We applied the coefficient of variation (CV) of light intensity in IR-DIC images to evaluate the change in morphological dynamics. We examined three kinds of edema in the CA1 region of rat hippocampal acute slices under conditions of hypotonic, strong excitation, and experimental ischemia, together with field excitatory postsynaptic potential (fEPSP) recording from radiatum in CA1 the region. There were notable close relationships among the edema formations, the light transmittance, the extent of changes in CV, and features of fEPSP during the three different insults. The present results indicate that CV is a reliable quantification index for edema formation in brain tissue and confirm that applying CV for the analysis in addition to the light transmittance analysis presents additional important information on brain tissue swelling.

Dual roles of plasmalemmal chloride channels in induction of cell death

Even under anisotonic conditions, most cells can regulate their volume by mechanisms called regulatory volume decrease (RVD) and increase (RVI) after osmotic swelling or shrinkage, respectively. In contrast, the initial processes of necrosis and apoptosis are associated with persistent swelling and shrinkage. Necrotic volume increase (NVI) is initiated by uptake of osmolytes, such as Na+, Cl- and lactate, under conditions of injury, hypoxia, ischaemia, acidosis or lactacidosis. Persistence of NVI is caused by dysfunction of RVD due to impairment of volume-sensitive Cl- channels under conditions of ATP deficiency or lactacidosis. Both lactacidosis-induced RVD dysfunction and necrotic cell death are prevented by pretreatment of cells with the vacuolating cytotoxin-A (VacA) toxin protein purified from Helicobacter pylori, which forms a lactacidosis-resistant anion channel. Apoptotic volume decrease (AVD) is triggered by activation of K+ and Cl- conductances following stimulation with a mitochondrion-mediated or death receptor-mediated apoptosis inducer. Apoptotic cell death can be prevented by blocking the Cl- channels but not the K+-Cl- cotransporters. Thus, the volume regulatory anion channel plays, unless impaired, a cell-rescuing role in the necrotic process by ensuring RVD after swelling induced by necrotic insults, whereas normotonic activation of the anion channel plays a cell-killing role in the apoptotic process by triggering AVD following stimulation with apoptosis inducers.

Degenerin sites mediate proton activation of deltabetagamma-epithelial sodium channel

The delta-subunit of epithelial Na(+) channels (ENaC) is predominately expressed in brain, heart, and pancreas. The amiloride sensitivity, Na(+) conductance, and critical domains for gating are characterized as a cross between proton-activated Na(+) channels and alpha-ENaC. The hypothesis that external protons may activate human delta-ENaC was addressed by expressing deltabetagamma-hENaC in Xenopus oocytes and evaluating proton-activated current with the two-electrode voltage clamp technique. Our results showed that protons transiently evoked a Na(+) current with an EC(50) of pH 6 overlapped on the basal current of deltabetagamma-hENaC. Proton-activated current was not observed in uninjected oocytes. Studies on gating kinetics revealed that activation, desensitization, and recovery times of proton-activated Na(+) current were 3.8 +/- 0.5 s, 253 +/- 9.5 s, and 10 +/- 3.6 s, respectively (n = 4-12). Alkali metal cation selectivity of the proton-activated current was identical to that of the basal current of deltabetagamma-hENaC. The metabolic acids, lactate, pyruvate, and formate, modified the proton-activated current, as did hypo-osmotic stress. EDTA, hypo-osmolarity, and lactate enhanced proton activation synergistically. Our results suggest that delta-hENaC subunit is essential for proton-activated current and gamma-subunit may potentially regulate the response of delta-hENaC to protons. We have concluded that deltabetagamma-hENaC is a proton-activated cation channel whose closing gate can be regulated by a proton-induced conformational change. Proton-sensitivity of deltabetagamma-hENaC may be an important mechanism for integrating external ischemic signals in inflamed and hypoxic tissues.

Effects of Mannitol on Ischemia-Induced Degeneration in Rat Hippocampus

Although mannitol has been used as an osmotherapeutic drug on brain injury, the clinical efficiency of the drug are still controversial. In the present study, we examined the effects of mannitol on the edema in a hippocampal slice due to brief ischemia. To evaluate the effects, we employed an image analysis system that consists of an infrared-differential interference contrast (IR-DIC) microscope, an infrared CCD camera, and a computer with custom-made software. By this system, severity of the edema can be quantified as the coefficient of variation (CV) of digitalized slice images. The dose-dependent improvement on the deteriorated hippocampal slices could be obtained by administration of mannitol (10, 50, and 100 mM) after 10-min ischemia. However, field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (fEPSP) in CA1 stratum radiatum, which disappeared during 10-min ischemia, were never recovered by mannitol after more than 20-min treatment. fEPSP were blocked by the effective dose of mannitol for morphological recovery, but the effects found to be reversible. Although we failed to find positive rescuing effects of mannitol on the synaptic activities after ischemia, the protective effects of the drug on ischemic edema may rescue the secondary damages around the infarct area.