The characteristics of [3H]-ouabain binding to human lymphocytes

Modulation of the immune system by ouabain

Ouabain, a known inhibitor of the Na,K-ATPase, has been shown to regulate a number of lymphocyte functions in vitro and in vivo. Lymphocyte proliferation, apoptosis, cytokine production, and monocyte function are all affected by ouabain. The ouabain-binding site occurs at the alpha subunit of the enzyme. The alpha subunit plays a critical role in the transport process, and four different alpha-subunit isoforms have been described with different sensitivities to ouabain. Analysis by RT-PCR indicates that alpha1, alpha2, and alpha3 isoforms are all present in murine lymphoid cells obtained from thymus, lymph nodes, and spleen. In these cells ouabain exerts an effect at concentrations that do not induce plasma membrane depolarization, suggesting a mechanism independent of the classical inhibition of the pump. In other systems, the Na,K-ATPase acts as a signal transducer in addition to being an ion pump, and ouabain is capable of inducing the activation of various signal transduction cascades. Neither resting nor concanavalin A (Con A)-activated thymocytes had their levels of phosphorylated-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (P-ERK) modified by ouabain. However, ouabain decreased p38 phosphorylation induced by Con A in these cells. The pathway induced by ouabain in lymphoid cells is still unclear but might vary with the type and state of activation of the cell.

Sodium-potassium pump activity in white blood cells from children with an increased risk of developing hypertension--The Odense Schoolchild Study

We have measured the capacity of the sodium-potassium pump, as assessed by 86rubidium uptake and the number of [3H]-ouabain binding sites on white blood cells, in children aged 9-11 years, partly cross-sectionally and partly longitudinally after a physical training programme. Children from a hypertensive subgroup comprising the upper 5% of the blood pressure distribution and children from a randomly selected normotensive subgroup were eligible for the study. In the cross-sectional study 40 children from the hypertensive subgroup and 40 children from the normotensive subgroup were evaluated. A significant increase in 86rubidium uptake was present in boys as compared to girls. After adjustment for differences in sexual maturation the observed significant difference disappeared. Important correlates of pump activity were height, plasma glucose, and physical fitness. In the training study 10 boys from the hypertensive subgroup and 10 boys from the normotensive subgroup were also evaluated after eight months of physical training. A significant fall in 86rubidium uptake was observed. No control group was examined and probably the changes reflect some effects of sexual maturation on cation handling of cells. These results indicate a significant effect of sexual maturation in capacity of sodium-potassium pump in children.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition as a therapeutic principle in Bartter's syndrome

The effect of captopril has been investigated in four patients with Bartter's syndrome treated for 12 weeks. Baseline biochemistry showed normal serum aldosterone (mean 347 pmol.l-1) and a mean serum renin of 217 mU-l-1, and a considerable increase in serum renin during captopril treatment. Serum aldosterone decreased gradually during the study period to about half its initial value. The patients presented with a mean serum potassium of 2.5 mmol.l-1, which rose to 3.4 mmol.l-1 on captopril. Lymphocytes showed a substantial captopril-induced increase in intracellular sodium (from 15 to 22.5 mmol.l-1 on average), but no change in the potassium content. Captopril was well-tolerated. It may be an alternative to potassium-sparing diuretics for maintaining normal serum potassium levels in patients with Bartter's syndrome.

The effects of a low extracellular concentration of potassium on the activity and numbers of Na+/K+ pumps in an EB-virus transformed human lymphocyte cell line

The BM1A EB-virus transformed human lymphocyte cell line contains approximately 950,000 Na+/K(+)-ATPase sites per cell. The turnover number of each site is approx. 2240 molecules of rubidium per min. When cells are exposed to a low extracellular concentration of potassium the intracellular concentration of sodium rises, and the cells respond in the short term by increasing the Vmax of 86Rb+ uptake. In the longer term the cells respond by increasing both the Vmax of 86Rb+ uptake and the Bmax of [3H]ouabain binding. The suggestion that increases in the intracellular concentration of sodium is responsible for these changes is supported by the finding that monensin, which increases intracellular sodium without affecting intracellular potassium, is capable of inducing both the short- and long-term changes associated with a low external concentration of potassium.

Ouabain inhibition of the sodium-potassium pump: estimation of ED50 in different types of human leucocytes in vitro

1. We examined the effect of ouabain on the Na(+)-K+ pump of intact mononuclear leucocytes and polymorphonuclear leucocytes by using the radioactive potassium analogue, 86rubidium, as a tracer and measuring the cellular uptake of K+ (86Rb+). Na(+)-K+ pump activity was determined as the cellular uptake of K+ (86Rb+) that is sensitive to ouabain, 10(-5) mol l-1. 2. Dose-response curves for inhibition of the Na(+)-K+ pump were obtained after exposure of the cells to various concentrations of ouabain for 2.5 h when the level of pump inhibition was considered to be at steady state. 3. The ED50 of ouabain for the effect on the Na(+)-K+ pump was estimated to be 3 X 10(-9) mol l-1 in the absence of potassium. In the presence of potassium, 3 and 6.5 X 10(-3) mol l-1, it was increased by factors of 10 and 45 respectively. In the presence of potassium, 4 X 10(-3) mol l-1, the ED50 was similar but somewhat higher when determined in an artificial medium (Ringer solution) than when determined in autologous plasma. 4. The ED50 values observed in the present study were very similar to KD values reported in the literature on ligand binding of tritiated ouabain to the same types of human leucocytes.

Increased number of ouabain binding sites in lymphocytes from borderline hypertensives

Lymphocytes were used as a cellular model for the in vitro measurements of maximal ouabain binding sites in order to assess any changes in young men at increased risk of developing essential hypertension, and to analyse whether any such changes were associated to borderline hypertension and/or heredity. Four groups were evaluated; 28 normotensive (NTO) and 20 borderline hypertensive (BHO) offspring of hypertensives. Twelve borderline hypertensives (BH) and 28 normotensive subjects (NT) with normotensive parents. The number of ouabain binding sites were significantly increased in the borderline hypertensives irrespective of heredity. The borderline hypertensives were heavier than the normotensives. A stepwise multiple regression model was therefore used in order to control confoundings by body mass index (BMI) and other factors such as age, gamma glutamyl transferase, 24 h sodium excretion, serum triglyceride, and serum cholesterol, which may influence the number of ouabain binding sites. Only BMI entered the stepwise model. These results indicate the presence of an increased number of sodium-potassium pumps in lymphocytes from borderline hypertensives. This difference may be attributed to the blood pressure disease or increased body mass.

3H-Ouabain binding to human mononuclear leucocytes

Specific binding of cardiac glycosides to intact human blood cells may be a suitable model for physiological or disease-induced changes in cardiac glycoside binding to human heart muscle. Since the erythrocyte contains no nucleus and has relatively few binding sites compared with heart muscle, intact mononuclear leucocytes were investigated in the present study. Using leucocyte suspensions from 34 normal subjects, 133 measurements of 3H-ouabain binding-were obtained. 3H-Ouabain bound to one type of binding site with an affinity (KD) of 2.8 +/- 1.2 X 10(-9) M, similar to that of human heart muscle. Association and dissociation were slow processes (k+1, 3.9 X 10(4) M-1 sec-1; k-1, 8.1 X 10(-5) sec-1, n = 2). The number of ouabain binding sites/leucocyte varied from 18,000 to 60,000 (mean +/- SD, 34,600 +/- 9,700), with no correlation with the proportion of monocytes present or with the serum K+-level of the donors. Large inter- and intra-individual differences in binding site number were measured which are probably a result of the heterogeneity of the cell suspension used. Thus, the ouabain binding site on human heart muscle and intact mononuclear leucocytes is probably identical. However, the number of binding sites in mixtures of mononuclear leucocytes shows large and inconsistent intraindividual variations, making these studies unsuitable for quantifying drug- or disease-induced changes in ouabain binding site number.

Measurement of specific [3H]-ouabain binding to different types of human leucocytes

We have studied the specific binding of [3H]-ouabain to intact mononuclear leucocytes (82% lymphocytes) and polymorphonuclear leucocytes. In both types of cells [3H]-ouabain binding was saturable, confined to a single site of high affinity, slow to reach equilibrium, slow to reverse, temperature-dependent, competitively antagonized by potassium, and facilitated by the presence of divalent cations. The equilibrium dissociation constants were 2.4 +/- 0.7 nmol/l (polymorphs) and 2.4 +/- 0.4 nmol/l (mononuclear cells) (NS). The values of maximal specific ouabain binding, measured by Scatchard analysis of concentration vs binding curves (Bmax), were 33.9 +/- 6.0 fmol/10(6) cells (polymorphs) and 59.3 +/- 11.6 fmol/10(6) cells (mononuclear cells) (P less than 0.02). The corresponding numbers of sites per cell were 20415 +/- 3616 and 35712 +/- 6986 respectively (P less than 0.02). When the numbers of binding sites were expressed per square micron of cell surface area the difference between the two cell types was proportionately greater (83 and 186 sites per micron 2 respectively). We conclude that the [3H]-ouabain binding sites on mononuclear and polymorphonuclear leucocytes are similar in nature, but different in both number and density on the cell surface. Measurements of Bmax in mixed cell populations should therefore take account of cell type as well as cell size and number.