Electrogenic Na+ transport in rat late distal colon by natural and synthetic glucocorticosteroids

Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A2/B1 is a tissue-specific aldosterone target gene with prominent induction in the rat distal colon

The steroid hormone aldosterone enhances transepithelial Na(+) reabsorption in tight epithelia and is crucial to achieve extracellular volume homeostasis and control of blood pressure. One of the main transport pathways regulated by aldosterone involves the epithelial Na(+) channel (ENaC), which constitutes the rate-limiting step of Na(+) reabsorption in parts of the distal nephron and the collecting duct, the distal colon, and sweat and salivary glands. Although these epithelial tissues share the same receptor for aldosterone (mineralocorticoid receptor, MR), and the same transport system (ENaC), it has become clear that the molecular mechanisms involved in the modulation of channel activity are tissue-specific. Recent evidence suggests that aldosterone controls transcription and also translation of ENaC subunits in some cell types. A possible pathway for translational regulation is binding of regulatory proteins to ENaC subunit mRNAs, such as the heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A2/B1 (hnRNP A2/B1). In this study, we examined whether hnRNP A2/B1 is an aldosterone-target gene in vivo. Our data show that physiological levels of aldosterone markedly induce hnRNP A2/B1 expression in an early and sustained manner in the late distal colon epithelium but not in other aldosterone-target tissues. The effect depends on MR but not on glucocorticoid receptor activity. We also demonstrate that the genomic region upstream of hnRNP A2/B1 contains aldosterone-responsive elements involved in the control of gene expression. We hypothesize that hnRNP A2/B1 is involved in the tissue-specific regulation of ENaC biosynthesis and may coordinate the response of other genes relevant for transepithelial Na(+) reabsorption by aldosterone.

CFTR structure and function: is there a role in the kidney?

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a lethal autosomal recessive genetic disease caused by mutations in the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). Mutations in the CFTR gene may result in a defective protein processing that leads to changes in function and regulation of this chloride channel. Despite of the expression of CFTR in the kidney, patients with CF do not present major renal dysfunction, but it is known that both the urinary excretion of proteins and renal capacity to concentrate and dilute urine are altered in these patients. CFTR mRNA is expressed in all nephron segments of rat and human, and this abundance is more prominent in renal cortex and outer medulla renal areas. CFTR protein was detected in apical surface of both proximal and distal tubules of rat kidney but not in the outer medullary collecting ducts. Studies have demonstrated that CFTR does not only transport Cl- but also ATP. ATP transport by CFTR could be involved in the control of other ion transporters such as Na+ (ENaC) and K+ (renal outer medullary potassium) channels, especially in TAL and CCD. In the kidney, CFTR also might be involved in the endocytosis of low-molecular-weight proteins by proximal tubules. This review is focused on the CFTR function and structure, its role in the renal physiology, and its modulation by hormones involved in the control of extracellular fluid volume.

Zinc inhibits cAMP-stimulated Cl secretion via basolateral K-channel blockade in rat ileum

Zn, an essential micronutrient and second most abundant trace element in cell and tissues, reduces stool output when administered to children with acute diarrhea. The mechanism by which Zn improves diarrhea is not known but could result from stimulating Na absorption and/or inhibiting anion secretion. The aim of this study was to investigate the direct effect of Zn on intestinal epithelial ion absorption and secretion. Rat ileum was partially stripped of serosal and muscle layers, and the mucosa was mounted in lucite chambers. Potential difference and short-circuit current were measured by conventional current-voltage clamp method. 86Rb efflux and uptake were assessed for serosal K channel and Na-K-2Cl cotransport activity, respectively. Efflux experiments were performed in isolated cells preloaded with 86Rb in the presence of ouabain and bumetanide, whereas uptake experiments were performed in low-Cl isotonic buffer containing Ba and ouabain. Neither mucosal nor serosal Zn affected glucose-stimulated Na absorption. In contrast, forskolin-induced Cl secretion was markedly reduced by serosal but not mucosal addition of Zn. Zn also substantially reversed the increase in Cl secretion induced by 8-bromoadenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (8-BrcAMP) with half-maximal inhibitory concentration of 0.43 mM. In contrast, serosal Zn did not alter Cl secretion stimulated by carbachol, a Ca-dependent agonist. Zn inhibited 8-BrcAMP-stimulated 86Rb efflux but not carbachol-stimulated 86Rb efflux. Zn had no effect on bumetanide-sensitive 86Rb uptake, Na-K-ATPase, or CFTR. We conclude from these studies that Zn inhibits cAMP-induced Cl secretion by blocking basolateral membrane K channels.

Effects of butyrate on active sodium and chloride transport in rat and rabbit distal colon

Short chain fatty acids, particularly butyrate, stimulate electroneutral NaCl absorption from the colon. Their effect in colonic epithelia lacking basal electroneutral NaCl absorption is unknown. Butyrate is also reported to inhibit active Cl- secretion in the colon. The present studies were undertaken to investigate the inter-relationships between the effects of butyrate on active Na+ and Cl- transport in the colon. Studies were carried out in rabbit distal colon (known to have predominant electrogenic Na+ absorption), rat distal colon (characterised by electroneutral Na+ absorption), and hyperaldosteronaemic rat distal colon (characterised by electrogenic Na+ absorption). The effect of cholera toxin (CT) was also noted. Potential difference, short-circuit current (I(SC)) and fluxes of Na+ and Cl- were measured in stripped mucosa under voltage-clamp conditions. Butyrate stimulated electroneutral Na+ and Cl- absorption in distal colon of normal and salt-depleted rats, and stimulated Na+ absorption in rabbit distal colon. Amiloride (10(-4) M) or CT did not inhibit this process. In rabbit distal colon, stimulation of Na+ absorption by butyrate was not dependent on the presence of Cl- in the medium. Butyrate significantly decreased conductance, decreased flux of sodium from serosa to mucosa (particularly in rabbit distal colon), and decreased I(SC). Net Cl- secretion, induced by CT, was completely inhibited by butyrate. Stimulation of Na+ absorption was independent of exposure to CT. Bumetanide reversed net Cl- secretion to net absorption, but did not alter Na+ or Cl- fluxes in tissues exposed to butyrate. Thus butyrate stimulates active Na+ absorption in colonic epithelia, with or without expression of basal Na+-H+ exchange. Independently, butyrate inhibits active Cl- secretion induced by cAMP in these epithelia.

Early aldosterone effect in distal colon by transcriptional regulation of ENaC subunits

Aldosterone-induced sodium absorption is mediated by the epithelial Na(+) channel (ENaC). It is thought that the "early effect" is not based on genomic regulation of ENaC expression, because ENaC subunit transcription was reported to start later than Na(+) transport. We investigated electrogenic Na(+) absorption (J(Na)) and, in identical tissues, mRNA expression of ENaC subunits in early (EDC) and late (LDC) distal colon of the rat. In both segments, 8-h in vitro incubation with 3 nM aldosterone enhanced expression of beta- and gamma-ENaC mRNA and induced J(Na). J(Na) was 10 times higher in LDC than in EDC. alpha-ENaC mRNA was unchanged in EDC, whereas it decreased in LDC. In LDC, beta- and gamma-ENaC mRNA was induced 1 h after aldosterone addition, whereas J(Na) became apparent >1 h later. Downregulation of alpha-ENaC mRNA did not take part in acute regulation because it started after a lag time of 3 h. Time correlation of beta- and gamma-ENaC induction and J(Na) stimulation suggests that the early aldosterone effect on Na(+) absorption in distal colon is caused by transcriptional upregulation of beta- and gamma-ENaC expression.