Hyposmotically activated chloride channels in cultured rabbit non-pigmented ciliary epithelial cells

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.

Volume-activated chloride currents in interstitial cells of Cajal

Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) undergo marked morphological changes on contraction of the musculature, making it essential to understand properties of mechanosensitive ion channels. The whole cell patch-clamp technique was used to identify and to characterize volume-activated Cl- currents in ICC cultured through the explant technique. Hypotonic solutions (approximately 210 mosM) activated an outwardly rectifying current, which reversed near the equilibrium potential for Cl-. Time-dependent inactivation occurred only at pulse potentials of +80 mV, with a time constant of 478 +/- 182 ms. The degree of outward rectification was calculated using a rectification index, the ratio between the slope conductances of +65 and -55 mV, which was 13.9 +/- 1.5 at 76 mM initial extracellular Cl- concentration. The sequence of relative anion permeability of the outwardly rectifying Cl- channel was I- > Cl- > aspartate-. The chloride channel blockers, DIDS and 5-nitro-2-(3-phenlypropl-amino)benzoic acid, caused a voltage-dependent block of the outwardly rectifying Cl- current, inhibition occurring primarily at depolarized potentials. On exposure to hypotonic solution, the slope conductance significantly increased at the resting membrane potential (-70 mV) from 1.2 +/- 0.2 to 2.0 +/- 0.4 nS and at the slow-wave plateau potential (-35 mV) from 2.1 +/- 0.3 to 5.0 +/- 1.0 nS. The current was constitutively active in ICC and contributed to the resting membrane potential and excitability at the slow-wave plateau. In conclusion, swelling or volume change will depolarize ICC through activation of outwardly rectifying chloride channels, thereby increasing cell excitability.

Hyposmotic activation of ICl,swell in rabbit nonpigmented ciliary epithelial cells involves increased ClC-3 trafficking to the plasma membrane

In mammalian nonpigmented ciliary epithelial (NPE) cells, hyposmotic stimulation leading to cell swelling activates an outwardly rectifying Cl(-) conductance (I(Cl,swell)), which, in turn, results in regulatory volume decrease. The aim of this study was to determine whether increased trafficking of intracellular ClC-3 Cl channels to the plasma membrane could contribute to the I(Cl,swell) following hyposmotic stimulation. Our results demonstrate that hyposmotic stimulation reversibly activates an outwardly rectifying Cl(-) current that is inhibited by phorbol-12-dibutyrate and niflumic acid. Transfection with ClC-3 antisense, but not sense, oligonucleotides reduced ClC-3 expression as well as I(Cl,swell). Intracellular dialysis with 2 different ClC-3 antibodies abolished activation of I(Cl,swell). Immunofluorescence microscopy showed that hyposmotic stimulation increased ClC-3 immunoreactivity at the plasma membrane. To determine whether this increased expression of ClC-3 at the plasma membrane could be due to increased vesicular trafficking, we examined membrane dynamics with the fluorescent membrane dye FM1-43. Hyposmotic stimulation rapidly increased the rate of exocytosis, which, along with ICl,swell, was inhibited by the phosphoinositide-3-kinase inhibitor wortmannin and the microtubule disrupting agent, nocodazole. These findings suggest that ClC-3 channels contribute to I(Cl,swell) following hyposmotic stimulation through increased trafficking of channels to the plasma membrane.

Extracellular acidification elicits a chloride current that shares characteristics with ICl(swell)

A Cl− current activated by extracellular acidification, ICl(pHac), has been characterized in various mammalian cell types. Many of the properties of ICl(pHac) are similar to those of the cell swelling-activated Cl− current ICl(swell): ion selectivity (I− > Br− > Cl− > F−), pharmacology [ ICl(pHac) is inhibited by 4,4′-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2′-disulfonic acid (DIDS), 1,9-dideoxyforskolin (DDFSK), diphenylamine-2-carboxylic acid (DPC), and niflumic acid], lack of dependence on intra- or extracellular Ca2+, and presence in all cell types tested. ICl(pHac) differs from ICl(swell) in three aspects: 1) its rate of activation and inactivation is very much more rapid, currents reaching a maximum in seconds rather than minutes; 2) it exhibits a slow voltage-dependent activation in contrast to the fast voltage-dependent activation and time- and voltage-dependent inactivation observed for ICl(swell); and 3) it shows a more pronounced outward rectification. Despite these differences, study of the transition between the two currents strongly suggests that ICl(swell) and ICl(pHac) are related and that extracellular acidification reflects a novel stimulus for activating ICl(swell) that, additionally, alters the biophysical properties of the channel.

2-APB inhibits volume-regulated anion channels independently from intracellular calcium signaling modulation

It has previously been suggested that volume-regulated anion channels (VRACs) and store-operated channels (SOCs) interact with each other according to their expected colocalization in the plasma membrane of LNCaP cells. In order to study interactions between these two channels, we used 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (2-APB) as a regular SOC inhibitor. Surprisingly 2-APB reduced VRAC activity in a dose-dependent manner (IC(50)=122.8 microM), but not 2,2-diphenyltetrahydrofuran (a structural analog of 2-APB). This effect was also present in keratinocytes. We conclude that 2-APB is an inhibitor of the VRAC family, and is also a potent tool to study the SOC-VRAC interaction in LNCaP cells.

A3 adenosine and CB1 receptors activate a PKC-sensitive Cl- current in human nonpigmented ciliary epithelial cells via a G beta gamma-coupled MAPK signaling pathway

(1) We examined A3 adenosine and CB1 cannabinoid receptor-coupled signaling pathways regulating Cl(-) current in a human nonpigmented ciliary epithelial (NPCE) cell line. (2) Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings demonstrated that the A3 receptor agonist, IB-MECA, activates an outwardly rectifying Cl(-)current (I(Cl,Aden)) in NPCE cells, which was inhibited by the adenosine receptor antagonist, CGS-15943 or by the protein kinase C (PKC) activator, phorbol 12,13 dibutyrate (PDBu). (3) Treatment of NPCE cells with pertussis-toxin (PTX), or transfection with the COOH-terminus of beta-adrenergic receptor kinase (ct-betaARK), inhibited I(Cl,Aden). The phosphatidyl inositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor, wortmannin, had no effect on I(Cl,Aden); however, the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) inhibitor, PD98059, inhibited I(Cl,Aden). (4) Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction experiments and immunocytochemistry confirmed mRNA and protein expression for the CB1 receptor in NPCE cells, and the CB1 receptor agonist, Win 55,212-2, activated a PDBu-sensitive Cl(-) current (I(Cl,Win)). (5) Transfection of NPCE cells with the human CB1 (hCB1) receptor, increased I(Cl,Win), consistent with increased receptor expression, and I(Cl,Win) in hCB1 receptor-transfected cells was decreased after application of a CB1 receptor inverse agonist, SR 141716. (6) Constitutive activity for CB1 receptors was not significant in NPCE cells as transfection with hCB1 receptors did not increase basal Cl(-) current, nor was basal current inhibited by SR 141716. (7) I(Cl,Win) was inhibited by PTX preincubation, by transfection with ct-betaARK and by the MEK inhibitor, PD98059, but unaffected by the PI3K inhibitor, wortmannin. (8) We conclude that both A3 and CB1 receptors activate a PKC-sensitive Cl(-) current in human NPCE cells via a G(i/o)/Gbetagamma signaling pathway, in a manner independent of PI3K but involving MAPK.

Molecular mechanisms of water transport in the eye

The four major sites for ocular water transport, the corneal epithelium and endothelium, the ciliary epithelium, and the retinal pigment epithelium, are reviewed. The cornea has an inherent tendency to swell, which is counteracted by its two surface cell layers, the corneal epithelium and endothelium. The bilayered ciliary epithelium secretes the aqueous humor into the posterior chamber, and the retinal pigment epithelium transports water from the retinal to the choroidal site. For each epithelium, ion transport mechanisms are associated with fluid transport, but the exact molecular coupling sites between ion and water transport remain undefined. In the retinal pigment epithelium, a H+-lactate cotransporter transports water. This protein could be the site of coupling between salt and water in this epithelium. The distribution of aquaporins does not suggest a role for these proteins in a general model for water transport in ocular epithelia. Some water-transporting membranes contain aquaporins, others do not. The ultrastructure is also variable among the cell layers and cannot be fitted into a general model. On the other hand, the direction of cotransport in symporters complies with the direction of fluid transport in both the corneal epi- and endothelium, as well as the ciliary epithelium and retinal pigment epithelium.

Ca2+ modulation of volume-regulated anion channels: evidence for colocalization with store-operated channels

Ca2+ regulation of Cl- current induced by cell swelling (I(CI,swell)) in response to hypotonicity was studied in human prostate cancer epithelial cells (LNCaP) by using the patch-clamp technique. Increase of global intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]in) to 1 mM as well as variations of the extracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]out) in the 0 to 10 mM range did not affect time course of the development, maximal amplitude, rectification properties, and kinetics of I(CI,swell). However, the presence of 0.1 mM thapsigargin (TG), an inhibitor of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca2+ pump, resulted in a more than 50% inhibition of ICI,swell. The blockade of plasma membrane store-operated channels (SOCs), activated in the presence of TG, by 2 mM Ni2+ prevented TG-conferred I(CI,swell) inhibition by extracellular Ca2+. In the presence of TG and Ca2+, the cells failed to exhibit regulatory volume decrease. We conclude that interaction between volume-regulated anion channels (VRACs) carrying I(CI,swell) and Ca2+ occurs in the microdomains from the inner surface of the membrane that are not accessible to the changes in [Ca2+]in, but can be readily reached by Ca2+ entering the cell via plasma membrane, especially through SOCs. Preferred access of SOC-transported Ca2+ to VRAC suggests colocalization of these channels in the cell membrane.