胍基丁胺对血清诱导大鼠肺动脉平滑肌细胞增殖的影响

目的：观察胍基丁胺对血清诱导大鼠肺动脉血管平滑肌细胞（PASMCs）增殖的影响。方法：采用组织块贴壁法原代培养大鼠PASMCs,取对数生长期PASMCs分对照组和胍基丁胺组,比色法测定细胞培养液中乳酸脱氢酶（LDH）活力。液闪计数仪测定^3H-TdR掺入量,流式细胞仪测定细胞周期,图像分析法测定增殖细胞核原含量（PCNA）作为细胞增殖的指标。结果：胍基丁胺对PASMCs培养液中LDH活力无明显影响;胍基丁胺可显著减少血清诱导增殖PASMCs的^3H-TdR掺入量和PCNA的含量（P〈0．01）,使G0／G1期细胞比例显著增加,G2／M期细胞比例显著减少（P〈0．01）。随着胍基丁胺浓度的增加,PASMCs ^3H—TdR掺入量也相应显著减少（P〈0.01）。结论：胍基丁胺对PASMCs不产生明显的细胞毒性作用;但可抑制血清培养大鼠PASMCs的增殖,这种抑制作用呈剂量依赖性。     

心室成纤维细胞条件培养液促进成纤维细胞胶原合成和增殖

采用心室成纤维细胞条件培养液培养心室成纤维细胞,通过测定[^3H]－脯氨酸（[^3H]－proline）的掺入率来了解心室成纤维细胞总胶原合成速率,通过测定[^3H]－胸腺嘧啶核苷（[^3H]－TdR）的掺入率以及c-fos基因的表达丰度来了解心室成纤维细胞的增殖速率。结果显示：心室成纤维细胞条件培养液（FCGM）能增加细胞自身的[^3H]－proline的掺入率和[^3H]－TdR的掺入率,并具有剂量依赖性;FCGM也能促进细胞自身c-fos基因的表达,刺激后1h达高峰。ETA受体拮抗剂BQ123能部分阻断FCGM增加成纤维细胞胶原合成的增殖作用,而AT1受体拮抗剂CV11974和α肾上腺素受体拮抗剂regitin无此效果。结果提示：心室成纤维细胞具有自分泌功能,能分泌内皮素等生物活性物质,促进成纤维细胞胶原的合成和增殖。     

红细胞生成素3’端增强子在肺动脉平滑肌细胞低氧性增殖调控中的作用

用噻唑蓝比色法 (MTT法 )、H3 胸腺嘧啶核苷 (H3 TdR)掺入法和流式细胞术 ,观察红细胞生成素 (EPO)3’端增强子片段对培养的猪肺动脉平滑肌细胞 (PASMCs)的内皮依赖性和非内皮依赖性低氧性增殖的影响。结果为 :(1)低氧 2 4h后PASMCs明显增殖 ,转入野生型EPO3’端增强子片段可被抑制 ,而转入突变型片段无此作用 ;(2 )肺动脉内皮细胞 (PAECs)低氧 2 4h ,其条件培养液有明显的促PASMCs增殖作用 ,将野生型EPO3’端增强子片段先转入PAECs,此作用明显减弱 ,而转入突变型片段则无明显影响。提示 :(1)PAECs低氧条件培养液可促进PASMCs增殖 ,PASMCs也可直接感受低氧而增殖 ,PAECs和PASMCs的低氧反应均被外源性EPO3’增强子片段抑制 ;(2 )由于EPO3’增强子上有低氧诱导因子 1(HIF 1)结合位点 ,PAEC和PASMC低氧反应可能是通过HIF 1低氧信号转导的共同通路     

自噬抑制剂氯奎对低氧诱导肺动脉平滑肌细胞增殖的影响

目的：探讨自噬抑制刺氯喹（cQ）在低氧（hypoxia）调节肺动脉平滑肌细胞（PASMCs）增殖中的作用。方法：将体外培养的大鼠PASMCs分为4组：正常对照组、1％低氧组、50μmol／L氯喹＋1％低氧组、50ttmol／L氯喹组。MTF方法检测各组的PASMCs增殖率;MDC染色检测细胞自噬空泡的变化;Westernblot方法检测微管相关蛋白轻链3（LC3）蛋白的表达变化;划痕法检测细胞迁移的变化。结果：与对照组比较,氯喹组的PASMCs细胞增殖率无明显变化。与对照组比较,1％低氧组PASMCs增殖率明显增加,细胞内出现大量自噬空泡,细胞迁移速度明显增加。细胞LC3-Ⅱ蛋白表达增强。与1％低氧组比较,氯喹与低氧联合作用时细胞自噬空泡的积聚以及rE3．II蛋白表达增强,但细胞增殖率和迁移明显降低。结论：低氧激活自噬过程并促进了PASMCs增殖和迁移,而自噬抑制剂氯喹在一定程度上通过抑制自噬进程,达到抑制肺动脉平滑肌细胞增殖和迁移的作用。     

细胞生成素3'端增强子在肺动脉平滑肌细胞低氧性增殖调控中的作用

用噻唑蓝比色法(MTT法)、H3-胸腺嘧啶核苷(H3-TdR)掺入法和流式细胞术, 观察红细胞生成素(EPO)3'端增强子片段对培养的猪肺动脉平滑肌细胞(PASMCs)的内皮依赖性和非内皮依赖性低氧性增殖的影响.结果为: (1)低氧24 h后PASMCs明显增殖, 转入野生型EPO3'端增强子片段可被抑制, 而转入突变型片段无此作用;(2)肺动脉内皮细胞(PAECs)低氧24 h, 其条件培养液有明显的促PASMCs增殖作用, 将野生型EPO3'端增强子片段先转入PAECs, 此作用明显减弱, 而转入突变型片段则无明显影响.提示: (1)PAECs低氧条件培养液可促进PASMCs增殖, PASMCs也可直接感受低氧而增殖, PAECs和PASMCs的低氧反应均被外源性EPO3'增强子片段抑制;(2)由于EPO3'增强子上有低氧诱导因子-1(HIF-1)结合位点, PAEC和PASMC低氧反应可能是通过HIF-1低氧信号转导的共同通路.     

尾加压素对常氧及低氧大鼠肺动脉平滑肌细胞周期的影响

目的：观察新近发现的缩血管活性肽人类尾加压素Ⅱ（human urotensin Ⅱ,hUII)对体外培养的大鼠肺动脉平滑肌细胞（PASMCs)周期的影响。方法：体外培养大鼠肺动脉平滑肌细胞,加入不同浓度（mol/L)的hUII(10^-7,10^-8,10^-9),在常氧及低氧条件下孵育12h,用流式细胞术碘化丙啶染色法,分析PASMCs DNA直方图细胞周期时项、细胞增殖指数及凋亡亚二倍体峰的改变,以初步观察hUII对PASMCs增殖与凋亡的影响。结果：hUII呈浓度依赖方式促进PASMCs的增殖,主要表现为细胞周期S期的百分比增加,细胞增殖指数（PI）增高,常氧作用比低氧作用更明显。hUII浓度（mol/L)为10^-7,10^-8,10^-9时,与PASMCs常氧作用12h,PI分别比对照组增加了的175％、135％、118％;低氧作用12h,PASMCs PI分别是对照组的135％、118％、103％,hUII浓度为10^-7mol/L时作用最明显。同时DNA直方图分析各浓度范围的hUII均未见PASMCs凋亡亚二倍体峰出现。结论：hUII以剂量依赖方式刺激常氧及低氧PASMCs S期DNA合成速率,使PI增高,提示hUII具有明显的促PASMCs增殖作用。     

阿米洛利抑制NHE-1减轻低氧性肺动脉平滑肌细胞增殖

目的：研究Na^＋／H^＋交换抑制剂阿米洛利对低氧刺激的大鼠肺动脉平滑肌细胞（PASMCs）增殖的影响,以及Na^＋／H^＋交挟体-l（NHE-1）活性和表达的变化.方法：常氧（21％O2）或低氧（2％O2）条件下培养PASMCs,并分别给予浓度为1．653、3．125、6．25、12．5、25和50μmol／L．等不同浓度的阿米洛利,培养24h,采用MTT比色实验和免疫组化检测PCNA阳性细胞率的方法反映细胞增殖情况,同时采用激光共聚焦检测细胞内pH以反映Na^＋／H^＋交换体-1活性,RT—PCR法检测Na^＋／H^＋交换体-1mRNA的表达量.结果：低氧培养的PASMCs细胞内pH升高,NHE—1mRNA的表达增多,而阿米洛利可以降低细胞内pH,减少NHE—1mRNA的表达量。同时低氧较常氧培养MTT光吸收值较常氧培养明显升高。PCNA阳性细胞率明显增高,而给予阿米洛利时上述两个指标随药物浓度增加而逐渐下降。结论：低氧可以激活PASMCs细胞膜上的E—1,增加其mRNA水平表达量,使细胞内碱化,促进细胞增殖,而Na^＋／H^＋交换抑制剂阿米洛利可以抑制其活性,减少mRNA水平的表达,导致细胞内酸化,从而抑制细胞增殖,并且此抑制作用在3．125～50μmol／L．浓度范围内呈现明显的浓度依赖性。     

甲状旁腺激素相关蛋白对心肌成纤维细胞增殖的影响

目的：观察外源性甲状旁腺激素相关蛋白（1—40）（PTHrp（1-40））对原代培养新生Wistar鼠心肌成纤维细胞（CFs）增殖及胶原合成的影响。方法：分离、培养Wistar乳鼠心肌成纤维细胞,加入不同浓度的PTHrp（1-40）共培养,用四氮唑盐比色法（MTT法）和^3H—TdR掺入法检测细胞增殖;^3H—Proline掺入法测定胶原合成。结果随着一定浓度PTHrp（1-40）的升高,CFs MTT法A490值及^3H—TdR的掺入量,^3H-脯氨酸掺入率呈明显的递减趋势。结论：PTHrp在一定程度上可抑制成纤维细胞增殖及细胞外基质的沉积。     

高血压大鼠心脏和血管MAPK磷酸酶-1表达的改变及对平滑肌细胞增殖的影响

目的和方法：比较自发性高血压大鼠（SHR）和对照（WKY）大鼠心脏和主动脉丝裂素活化蛋白激酶磷酸酶－1（MKP－1）及细胞外信号调节激酶（ERK－1）的表达,并观察用磷酸钙共沉淀方法转染MKP－1基因对血管紧张素Ⅱ（Ang Ⅱ）刺激平滑肌细胞（VSMC）^3H－胸腺叫啶（^3H-TdR)掺入的影响,以探讨MKP－1在细胞增殖中的调节作用。结果：①与WKY大鼠相比,SHR心脏和主动脉MKP－1呈低表达,分别降低53％和45％（P均＜0．01）;而SHR心脏和主动脉ERK－1呈明显高表达（P均＜0．01）,SHR心脏和主动脉ERK－1与MKP－1蛋白比值明显高于WKY。②AngⅡ 10^-7mol/L刺激VSMC增殖较对照组增加257％（P＜0．01）,转染野生型MKP－1基因细胞可使AngⅡ刺激的^3H-TdR掺入较未转染的细胞降低63％（P＜0．05）,转染突变型MKP－1基因和转染空载体的VSMC对AngⅡ的刺激与单纯AngⅡ组相比无明显抑制作用（P＞0．05）。结论：SHR心血管组织中促增殖肥大的ERK－1表达较其失活的MKP－1占优势,并且MKP－1可显著抑制AngⅡ的VSMC增殖。     

低氧促进大鼠肺动脉平滑肌细胞Periostin表达及其信号转导机制

观察低氧对大鼠肺动脉平滑肌细胞（pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells,PASMCs）Periostin表达的影响及其相关信号转导机制。胶原酶I法原代培养PASMCs,经低氧（5％O2）分别处理PASMCs2,6,12,24h后,RT-PCR和Western blot法检测Periostin mRNA和蛋白表达。加入PI3K/Akt通路特异性抑制剂LY294002（10μmol／L）进行干预,Western blot分析比较不同条件下低氧处理24h后大鼠PASMCs中Periostin和Akt／P-Akt的蛋白表达。结果表日月,与常氧组比较,低氧处理6h组、12h组和24h纽Periostin mRNA和蛋白的表达均显著上升（P〈0．05,P〈0．01）,低氧处理后的PASMCs中Periostin mRNA和蛋白的表达逐渐升高：低氧处理2h组无显著差异（P〉0．05）。用LY294002对PASMCs处理,并低氧24h后,Periostin的表达被显著抑制（P〈0．01）,细胞P-Akt的表达下调（P〈0．05）,总Akt的蛋白表达没有明显差异（P〉0．05）。推测低氧可诱导大鼠PASMCs中Periostin mRNA和蛋白的表达上调。低氧可能通过激活P13K/Akt通路促进Akt的磷酸化,进而使Periostin在PASMCs中过表达,提示Periostin在低氧性PASMCs增殖过程中可能起着重要作用。     

载脂蛋白E对低氧诱导小鼠肺动脉平滑肌细胞增殖的影响及其机制*

目的:探讨外源性载脂蛋白E(apoE)对低氧诱导小鼠肺动脉平滑肌细胞(PASMCs)增殖的影响及其机制。方法:采用组织块贴壁法原代培养小鼠PASMCs,取对数生长期PASMCs,分常氧组、常氧+apoE组、低氧组和低氧+apoE组,常氧组培养条件为:21% O₂、5% CO₂,低氧组培养条件为:1% O₂、5% CO₂,外源性加apoE使终浓度为10 μg/ml,培养时间为48 h,重复三次。EdU掺入法检测细胞增殖情况,Western blot法检测apoE、增殖细胞核抗原(PCNA)、蛋白激酶C(PKC)和磷酸化蛋白激酶C(p-PKC)蛋白的表达。结果:与常氧组比较,低氧组PASMCs增殖率提高64.7%,PCNA蛋白和p-PKC蛋白表达分别上调69.0%和120.0%,而apoE蛋白表达下调51.0%(P均＜0.05);与低氧组比较,低氧+apoE组PASMCs增殖率降低19.6%,PCNA蛋白和p-PKC蛋白表达分别下调19.8%和103.2%(P均＜0.05);各组间PKC蛋白表达无显著性差异,常氧组p-PKC蛋白表达与常氧+apoE组的相比也无显著性差异(P均＞0.05)。结论:apoE能抑制低氧诱导小鼠PASMCs增殖,其机制可能与阻碍PKC途径有关。     

Over-expression of PKGIα inhibits hypoxia-induced proliferation, Akt activation, and phenotype modulation of human PASMCs: the role of phenotype modulation of PASMCs in pulmonary vascular remodeling

The proliferation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) plays a role in pulmonary vascular remodeling (PVR). Recently, it was shown that vascular smooth muscular cell phenotype modulation is important for their proliferation in other diseases. However, little is known about the role of human PASMC phenotype modulation in the proliferation induced by hypoxia and its molecular mechanism during PVR. In this study, we found using primary cultured human PASMCs that hypoxia suppressed the expression of endogenous PKGIα, which was reversed by transfection with a recombinant adenovirus containing the full-length cDNA of PKGIα (Ad-PKGIα). Ad-PKGIα transfection significantly attenuated the hypoxia-induced downregulation of the expression of smooth muscle α-actin (SM-α-actin), myosin heavy chain (MHC) and calponin in PASMCs, indicating that hypoxia-induced phenotype modulation was blocked. Furthermore, flow cytometry and ³H-TdR incorporation demonstrated that hypoxia-induced PASMC proliferation was suppressed by upregulation of PKGIα. These results suggest that enhanced PKGIα expression inhibited hypoxia-induced PASMC phenotype modulation and that it could reverse the proliferation of PASMCs significantly. Moreover, our previous work has demonstrated that Akt protein is activated in the process of hypoxia-induced proliferation of human PASMCs. Interestingly, we found that Akt was not activated by hypoxia when PASMC phenotype modulation was blocked by Ad-PKGIα. This result suggests that blocking phenotype modulation might be a key up-stream regulatory target.     

Attenuation of pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cell proliferation following hypoxic pulmonary hypertension by the Na+/H+ exchange inhibitor amiloride

Chronic hypoxia results in pulmonary hypertension. To investigate the role of Na+/H+ exchange in this process, we determined the effect of amiloride, a Na+/H+ exchange inhibitor, on hypoxic pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cell proliferation, both in vivo and in vitro. Sprague-Dawley rats were placed either in a hypobaric, hypoxic chamber (10.5% 02) or under normal 21% O2 atmosphere for 8 h each day for 3 weeks. Rats under hypoxic conditions received 1, 3, or 10 mg/kg/d amiloride or the vehicle alone. Hematologic indices, including red blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit and mean corpuscular hemoglobin increased in hypoxic rats, but these changes were prevented by treatment with amiloride. In the hypoxic rats, the right ventricular systolic pressure and right ventricular hypertension index (weight ratio of right ventricular to left and septum together) were increased by 88% and 129%, respectively. Arteriolar wall thickness and area in the hypoxia-treated animals increased 3- and 2-fold, respectively, over normoxic controls; the increase in each of these indices was attenuated by amiloride in a dose-dependent manner. In cultured pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells, hypoxia greatly increased cellular proliferation, and this similarly showed a dose-dependent attenuation in the presence of amiloride. Amiloride did not affect blood pressure in vivo or cause cell damage in vitro. These data suggest that the Na+/H+ exchange inhibitor amiloride may represent an effective adjunctive therapy in pulmonary hypertension induced by chronic hypoxia.     

红细胞生成素3‘端增强子在肺动脉平滑肌细胞代氧性增殖调控中的作用

用噻唑蓝比色法（ＭＴＴ法）、Ｈ＾３－胸腺嘧啶核苷（Ｈ＾３－ＴｄＲ）掺入法和流式细胞术,观察红细胞生成素（ＥＰＯ）３’端增强子片段对培养的猪肺动脉平滑肌细胞（ＰＡＳＭＣｓ）的内皮依赖性和非内皮依赖性低氧性增殖的影响。结果为：（１）低氧２４ｈ后ＰＡＳＭＣｓ明显增殖,转入野生型ＥＰＯ３’端增强子片段可被抑制,而转入突变型片段无此作用;（２）肺动脉内皮细胞（ＰＡＥＣｓ）低氧２４ｈ,其条件培养液有明显的促Ｐ     

缺氧时培养的肺动脉平滑肌细胞血管紧张素Ⅱ自分泌的变化及其机制

缺氧是否通过影响血管平滑肌细胞的自分泌功能而参与缺氧性肺动脉高压的发生尚不清楚。本实验动态了缺氧对培养的新生小牛肺动脉平滑肌细胞（ＰＡＳＭＣｓ）的血管紧张素Ⅱ（ＡＴⅡ）分泌的影响。结果发现：２．５％Ｏ２缺氧导致ＰＡＳＭＣｓ的ＡＴⅡ分泌降低,０％Ｏ２缺氧进一步抑制ＡＴⅡ分泌。常氧条件下,ＮＯ供体ＳＩＮ－１显著的抑制ＡＴⅡ分泌,而ＮＯ合酶凶制剂硝基精氨酸（ＬＮＡ）则能消除缺氧对ＡＴⅡ分泌的抑制作用。０     

缺氧对新生小牛肺血管平滑肌细胞增殖的影响及764—3的抑制作用

本研究应用细胞培养、~3H—TdR参入技术,探讨缺氧对新生小牛肺血管平滑肌细胞(PASMC)DNA合成和细胞增殖的影响及746—3和川芎嗪抗细胞增殖效果。结果表明:缺氧的肺血管内皮细胞(PAEC)培养液可以明显增加PASMC中~3H—TdR的参入;缺氧24h亦可直接刺激PASMC,使其中~3H—TdR的参入显著增加(P<0.001);在缺氧的PASMC培养基中加入764—3,~3H—TdR参入值与单纯缺氧组相比显著下降,并使细胞数减少36.3％,764—3还可以显著抑制常氧PASMC的增殖;川芎嗪的作用较小。实验结果提示,缺氧不仅可以刺激内皮细胞(EC)产生促分裂素使PASMC增殖,而且还可以直接刺激PASMC的增殖,764—3可抑制缺氧及血清刺激的PASMC的增殖。     

Chronic hypoxia decreases K(V) channel expression and function in pulmonary artery myocytes

Activity of voltage-gated K+ (KV) channels regulates membrane potential (E(m)) and cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+](cyt)). A rise in ([Ca2+](cyt))in pulmonary artery (PA) smooth muscle cells (SMCs) triggers pulmonary vasoconstriction and stimulates PASMC proliferation. Chronic hypoxia (PO(2) 30-35 mmHg for 60-72 h) decreased mRNA expression of KV channel alpha-subunits (Kv1.1, Kv1.5, Kv2.1, Kv4.3, and Kv9.3) in PASMCs but not in mesenteric artery (MA) SMCs. Consistently, chronic hypoxia attenuated protein expression of Kv1.1, Kv1.5, and Kv2.1; reduced KV current [I(KV)]; caused E(m) depolarization; and increased ([Ca2+](cyt)) in PASMCs but negligibly affected KV channel expression, increased I(KV), and induced hyperpolarization in MASMCs. These results demonstrate that chronic hypoxia selectively downregulates KV channel expression, reduces I(KV), and induces E(m) depolarization in PASMCs. The subsequent rise in ([Ca2+](cyt)) plays a critical role in the development of pulmonary vasoconstriction and medial hypertrophy. The divergent effects of hypoxia on KV channel alpha-subunit mRNA expression in PASMCs and MASMCs may result from different mechanisms involved in the regulation of KV channel gene expression.     

Inhibition of hypoxia-induced proliferation and collagen synthesis by vasonatrin peptide in cultured rat pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells

The aim of the present research is to investigate the effects of vasonatrin peptide (VNP) on hypoxia-induced proliferation and collagen synthesis in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs). Smooth muscle cells isolated from rat pulmonary artery were cultured and used at passages 3-5. Cell proliferation and collagen synthesis were evaluated by cell counts, [(3)H] thymidine and [(3)H] proline incorporation. The results showed that cells exposed to hypoxia for 24 h exhibited a significant increase in [(3)H] thymidine (93%) and [(3)H] proline (52%) incorporation followed by a significant increase in cell number (47%) at 48 h in comparison with the respective normoxic controls. VNP reduced hypoxia-stimulated increase in cell proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner from 10(-8) to 10(-6) mol/L and attenuated hypoxia-induced collagen synthesis ranging from 10(-6) to 10(-5) mol/L, which is similar to but more potent than both ANP and CNP. The action of VNP on PASMCs was mimicked by 8-bromo-cGMP (10(-4) mol/L, the membrane-permeable cGMP analog), and blocked by HS-142-1 (2 x 10(-5) mol/L), the particulate guanylyl cyclase-coupled natriuretic peptide receptor antagonist, or KT-5823 (10(-6) mol/L), the cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) inhibitor. The results suggest that VNP inhibits hypoxia-stimulated proliferation and collagen synthesis in cultured rat PASMCs via particulate guanylyl cyclase-coupled receptors through cGMP/PKG dependent mechanisms.     

Heterogeneity of the Na(+)-H+ antiport systems in renal cells.

This study analyzes the differential characteristics of the Na(+)-H+ antiport systems observed in several epithelial and non-epithelial renal cell lines. Confluent monolayers of LLC-PK1A cells have a Na(+)-H+ antiport system located in the apical membrane of the cell. This system, however, is not expressed during cell proliferation or after incubation in the presence of different mitogenic agents. In contrast, confluent monolayers of MDCK4 express minimal Na(+)-H+ antiport activity in the confluent monolayer state but reach maximal antiport activity during cell proliferation or after activation of the cells by different mitogenic agents. Similar results were obtained with the renal fibroblastic cell line BHK. The system present in MDCK4 cells is localized in the basolateral membrane of the epithelial cell. In LLC-PK1A cells, an increase in the extracellular Na+ concentration produces a hyperbolic increase in the activity of the Na(+)-H+ antiporter. In MDCK4 and BHK cells, however, an increase in external Na+ produces a sigmoid activation of the system. Maximal activation of the system occur at a pHo 7.5 in LLC-PK1A cells and pHo 7.0 in MDCK4 cells. The Na(+)-H+ antiporter of LLC-PK1A cells is more sensitive to the inhibitory effect of amiloride (Ki 1.8 x 10(-7) M) than is the antiporter of MDCK4 cells (Ki 7.0 x 10(-6) M). Moreover, 5-(N-methyl-N-isobutyl)amiloride is the most effective inhibitor of Na(+)-H+ exchange in LLC-PK1A cells, but the least effective inhibitor in MDCK4 cells. Conversely, the analog, 5-(N,N-dimethyl)amiloride, is the most effective inhibitor of Na(+)-H+ exchange in MDCK4 cells, but is the least effective inhibitor in LLC-PK1A cells. These results support the hypothesis that Na(+)-H+ exchange observed in LLC-PK1A and other cell lines may represent the activity of different Na(+)-H+ antiporters.