Stimulation of human cheek cell Na+/H+ antiporter activity by saliva and salivary electrolytes: amplification by nigericin

Proton-dependent, ethylisopropylamiloride (EIPA)-sensitive Na⁺ uptake (Na⁺/H⁺ antiporter) studies were performed to examine if saliva, and ionophores which alter cellular electrolyte balance, could influence the activity of the cheek cell Na⁺/H⁺ antiporter. Using the standard conditions of 1 mmol/1 Na⁺, and a 65:1 (inside:outside) proton gradient in the assay, the uniport ionophores valinomycin (K⁺) and gramicidin (Na⁺) increased EIPA-sensitive Na⁺ uptake by 177% (p < 0.01) and 227% (p < 0.01), respectively. The dual antiporter ionophore nigericin (K⁺-H⁺) increased EIPA-sensitive Na⁺ uptake by 654% (p < 0.01), with maximal Na⁺ uptake achieved by 1 min and at an ionophore concentration of 50 mol/l, with an EC₅₀ value 6.4 mol/l. Preincubation of cheek cells with saliva or the low molecular weight (MW) components of saliva (saliva activating factors, SAF) for 2 h at 37°C, also significantly stimulated EIPA-sensitive Na⁺ uptake. This stimulation could be mimicked by pre-incubation with 25 mmol/l KCl or K⁺-phosphate buffer. Pre-incubating cheek cells with SAF and the inclusion of 20 mol/1 nigericin in the assay, produced maximum EIPA-sensitive Na⁺ uptake. After pre-incubation with water, 25 mmol/1 K⁺-phosphate or SAF, with nigericin in all assays, the initial rate of proton-gradient dependent, EIPA-sensitive Na⁺ uptake was saturable with respect to external Na⁺ with K_m values of 0.9, 1.7, and 1.8 mmol/l, and V_max values of 13.4, 25.8, and 31.1 nmol/mg protein/30 sec, respectively. With 20 mol/1 nigericin in the assay, Na⁺ uptake was inhibited by either increasing the [K⁺]_o in the assay, with an ID₅₀ of 3 mmol/l. These results indicate that nigericin can facilitate K⁺_i exchange for H⁺_o and the attending re-acidification of the cheek cell amplifies IINa+ uptake via the Na⁺/H⁺ antiporter. The degree of stimulation of proton-dependent, EIPA-sensitive Na⁺ uptake is therefore dependent, in part, on the intracellular K⁺_i.