A new member of the HCO3(-) transporter superfamily is an apical anion exchanger of beta-intercalated cells in the kidney

The kidneys play pivotal roles in acid-base homeostasis, and the acid-secreting (alpha-type) and bicarbonate-secreting (beta-type) intercalated cells in the collecting ducts are major sites for the final modulation of urinary acid secretion. Since the H(+)-ATPase and anion exchanger activities in these two types of intercalated cells exhibit opposite polarities, it has been suggested that the alpha- and beta-intercalated cells are interchangeable via a cell polarity change. Immunohistological studies, however, have failed to confirm that the apical anion exchanger of beta-intercalated cells is the band 3 protein localized to the basolateral membrane of alpha-intercalated cells. In the present study, we show the evidence that a novel member of the anion exchanger and sodium bicarbonate cotransporter superfamily is an apical anion exchanger of beta-intercalated cells. Cloned cDNA from the beta-intercalated cells shows about 30% homology with anion exchanger types 1-3, and functional expression of this protein in COS-7 cells and Xenopus oocytes showed sodium-independent and 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid-insensitive anion exchanger activity. Furthermore, immunohistological studies revealed that this novel anion exchanger is present on the apical membrane of beta-intercalated cells, although some beta-intercalated cells were negative for AE4 staining. We conclude that our newly cloned transporter is an apical anion exchanger of the beta-intercalated cells, whereas our data do not exclude the possibility that there may be another form of anion exchanger in these cells.

Dominant negative c-Src inhibits angiotensin II induced activation of NHE3 in OKP cells

BACKGROUND

Angiotensin II is a potent stimulator of the proximal tubule apical membrane Na/H antiporter, encoded by NHE3. The nonreceptor tyrosine kinase, c-Src, plays a key role in regulation of NHE3 by acidosis in the proximal tubule, and in signaling effects of angiotensin II in vascular smooth muscle.

METHODS

The present studies examined the role of c-Src in mediating angiotensin II-induced NHE3 activation in cultured OKP cells. c-Src was inhibited with herbimycin A, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, and expression of a dominant negative c-Src, c-SrcK295M.

RESULTS

Herbimycin A blocked angiotensin II induced increases in Na/H antiporter activity. In two clonal cell lines expressing vector alone, angiotensin II increased Na/H antiporter activity, while in three clones expressing c-SrcK295M, angiotensin II had no effect. Cyclic AMP and protein kinase A have been proposed to be key mediators in regulation of NHE3 by angiotensin II. 10(-4) M 8-bromo cAMP induced a 40 to 50% inhibition of Na/H antiporter activity in cells expressing c-SrcK295M, similar to that seen in wild-type OKP cells. In addition, cells expressing c-SrcK295M responded normally to 10(-7) M dexamethasone with a 50 to 80% increase in Na/H antiporter activity.

CONCLUSIONS

These studies demonstrate that c-Src is required for angiotensin II-induced increases in NHE3 activity. Thus, c-Src plays a key role in antiporter activation by acidosis and angiotensin II.

Intracellular acidosis activates c-Src

The purpose of the present studies was to determine whether acidosis activates protein tyrosine kinase pathways. Incubation of MCT cells, a renal proximal tubule cell line, in acid media caused increased phosphotyrosine content of 60- to 70- and 120-kDa cytosolic proteins. Media acidification induced a twofold increase in c-Src activity that occurred within 30 s. Significant activation occurred with media pH changes as small as 0.07 pH unit accompanied by cell acidification of 0.06 pH unit. Sodium propionate addition, NH4Cl prepulse, and nigericin addition, maneuvers that decrease intracellular pH in the absence of changes in extracellular pH, activated c-Src. Significant activation by sodium propionate was seen with cell pH changes as small as 0.07 pH unit. Sodium orthovanadate, a protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor, prevented c-Src activation by media acidification but did not prevent protein tyrosine phosphorylation. In summary, decreased intracellular pH activates c-Src. Acid activation of c-Src represents a novel mechanism of c-Src activation that may be relevant to many cellular responses to acidosis.

Expression and localization of the water channels in human autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease

To characterize the cyst-lining cells in human autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), we performed immunohistological studies with specific antibodies against human aquaporin-2 (AQP-2, the vasopressin-regulated water channel) and aquaporin-3 (AQP-3), which are expressed only in collecting duct cells in the normal kidney. The polycystic kidney samples were obtained from 2 hemodialysis patient at uninephrectomy. Immunohistochemical studies revealed two types of staining of cyst-lining cells. Approximately 30% of all the cysts were simultaneously immunostained by both antibodies. Among these AQP-positive cysts, more than 90% of the cysts were intensely stained, with well-polarized localization of AQP-2 and AQP-3. In fewer than 10% of AQP-positive cysts, by contrast, immunostaining for AQP-2 and AQP-3 was faint and no clearly polarized localization of the channels was observed. We examined the immunostaining in further detail by electron microscopy. Staining specific for AQP-2 was mainly observed in the apical membrane of cyst-lining cells. Moreover, staining specific for AQP-3 was observed in all of the AQP-2-positive cysts. It appeared unlikely that the variations in immunostaining observed under the light microscope had been induced by total disruption of water-channel polarity. The present study suggests that about 30% of the cysts in our cases of ADPKD were derived from the collecting duct cells and that the cyst-lining cells were well differentiated in terms of AQP expression.

Role of tyrosine kinase pathways in ETB receptor activation of NHE3

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) binding to ETB receptors increases the activity of the apical membrane Na+/H+ antiporter (NHE3) of renal proximal tubule and cultured OKP cells. In OKPETB6 cells, a clonal cell line of OKP cells that overexpresses ETB receptors, ET-1-induced increases in Na+/H+ antiporter activity are mediated 50% by Ca2(+)-dependent pathways and 50% by tyrosine kinase pathways. ET-1 induces tyrosine phosphorylation of proteins of 68, 110, 125, 130, and 210 kDa. ET-1-induced tyrosine phosphorylation is mediated by the ETB receptor and is not dependent on increases in cell Ca2+ or protein kinase C. The 68-, 110-, 125-, and 130-kDa phosphoproteins are cytosolic, whereas the 210-kDa phosphoprotein is an integral membrane protein. Immunoprecipitation studies showed that the 68-kDa protein is paxillin and the 125-kDa protein is p125FAK (focal adhesion kinase). Cytochalasin D, which disrupts focal adhesions, prevented ET-1-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of paxillin, p110, p125FAK, and p130 but did not prevent tyrosine phosphorylation of p210 and did not prevent ET-1-induced increases in Na+/H+ antiporter activity. Thus 50% of ETB receptor-induced Na+/H+ antiporter activation is mediated by tyrosine kinase pathways, possibly involving p210. ETB receptor activation also induces tyrosine phosphorylation of focal adhesion proteins, but this is not required for antiporter activation.

Role of vasopressin V2 receptor in acute regulation of aquaporin-2

Aquaporin-2 (AQP-2) has been shown to be a vasopressin-sensitive water channel in collecting duct (CD) cells of the kidney. To prove the role of the vasopressin V2 receptor (V2R) in the regulation of intracellular AQP-2 shuttling, we examined the acute effects of vasopressin and V2R antagonist on the distribution of AQP-2 in the cells. Normal Wistar rats were given continuous infusions of vasopressin, vasopressin V2R antagonist (OPC31260), or both. The kidneys were then processed for immunofluorescent studies with an affinity-purified specific antibody to AQP-2. One hour after the infusion of the V2R antagonist, AQP-2 staining was diffusely distributed in the CD cells from the cortex to the inner medulla. This tendency was not changed by the concomitant infusion with vasopressin. Vasopressin infusion without antagonist, however, induced intensified AQP-2 staining of the apical membrane in the CD cells. The ratio of the fluorescence intensity of the apical to subapical region was determined by confocal laser microscopy. In the inner medulla, this ratio was significantly increased in the vasopressin treatment group (2.26 +/- 0.76) as compared to the V2R antagonist group (1.03 +/- 0.34) and the combined treatment group (0.84 +/- 0.43). The increase in the ratio was also demonstrated in the cortex and the outer medulla in the vasopressin-treated group. In addition, Northern blotting studies clearly revealed that mRNA of AQP-2 in the vasopressin-treated group was increased when compared to the combined treatment animals. Our present results reveal that localization and gene expressions of AQP-2 are acutely regulated via vasopressin V2R.

Corticosterone increases Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity in rat cortical collecting ducts with inhibition of 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase

To examine a physiological role of 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11OHSD) in the aldosterone target tissue, we measured Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity in the cortical collecting ducts (CCD) from adrenalectomized rats, which were treated with a physiological dose of corticosterone and/or carbenoxolone (an inhibitor of 11OHSD). The Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity in adrenalectomized rats was not significantly changed by either corticosterone alone or carbenoxolone alone, whereas its activity showed a significant increase only in the rats that received both corticosterone and carbenoxolone. In these rats, the plasma concentration of corticosterone was within the physiological range (10(-6) M) and the plasma carbenoxolone concentration was about 10(-7) M. Furthermore, the direct effect of carbenoxolone was examined in the microdissected CCD because it has been reported that carbenoxolone per se had an affinity for the aldosterone receptor. Na+K(+)-ATPase activity in the microdissected CCD was increased in a dose-dependent manner after a 3-hour incubation with carbenoxolone, and this effect was completely inhibited by canrenoic acid (an aldosterone antagonist). However, the minimal carbenoxolone concentration exerting a stimulatory effect was 10(-6) M, which is about 10 times higher than the plasma concentration of carbenoxolone in the in vivo treated rats. These results indicate that an inhibition of 11OHSD but not a direct action of carbenoxolone induces an increase in Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity, which is a well-known aldosterone effect in the CCD.

Expression and distribution of aquaporin of collecting duct are regulated by vasopressin V2 receptor in rat kidney

To examine whether expression and distribution of aquaporin of collecting duct (AQP-CD) are regulated by vasopressin V2 receptor (V2R), we performed immunohistochemical studies with specific antibody against AQP-CD. Normal Wistar rats were divided into four groups and treated for 3 d; control, dehydration, vasopressin V1 receptor (V1R) antagonist (OPC-21268 120 mg/kg), V2R antagonist (OPC-31260 30 mg/kg). At time of death, urine osmolality (Uosm) in the dehydration group (1884 +/- 245 mOsm/kg) was significantly higher than that in the control (938 +/- 91). In the V2R antagonist group, Uosm was significantly decreased to 249 +/- 29, whereas V1R antagonist showed no effect on Uosm. In the control and V1R antagonist groups, immunofluorescence studies showed the AQP-CD staining of both apical membrane and subapical cytoplasm of CD cells of the cortex and the inner medulla. Dehydration increased the immunostaining of both apical membrane and subapical cytoplasm of CD cells of the inner medulla, and the degree of increase was dominant in apical membrane. In the V2R antagonist group, only faint staining of apical membrane and weak labeling of cytoplasm of CD cells of the inner medulla were observed. These changes in the localization and protein amount of AQP-CD by dehydration and V2R antagonist were quantitatively confirmed by immunogold studies and immunoblot analysis of the inner medulla. The present results indicate that the distribution and amount of AQP-CD in the CD cells are regulated by vasopressin V2 receptor.