A mathematical model of rabbit cortical thick ascending limb of the Henle's loop

A mathematical version of the cell model of the cortical thick ascending limb of the rabbit proposed by Greger and Schlatter ((1983) Pfügers Arch. 396, 325-334) is described. Available data are sufficient to compute the most important parameters. Simulations of experiments with perfused tubules in which the transepithelial voltage and conductance, and the intracellular electrical potential were measured in the course of ionic substitutions in the perfusing baths or treatment with ouabain or furosemide are in good agreement with the experimental results with the exception of those relating to dilution potential experiments. The model can be used in the analysis and planning of experiments and is capable of predicting the instantaneous values of ionic fluxes and intracellular concentrations and of cell volume.     

Ion channels in the thick ascending limb of Henle's loop.

The thick ascending limb of Henle's loop (TAL) is polarized with respect to its conductances. The luminal membrane contains a K+ conductance which is made up by the synchronous operation of 60- to 80-pS K+ channels. The basolateral membrane contains a chloride conductance. This conductance corresponds most likely to a 30- to 60-pS Cl- channel present in this membrane. Our knowledge on the properties of the K+ channels of these cells has been increased rapidly by patch clamp studies: these K+ channels are inwardly rectifying. They are highly selective for K+ over Na+, Li+ and many other cations. They do not conduct Rb+, Cs+, NH+4 or other larger cations. In fact, all these three cations as well as choline, tetraethylammonium, lidocaine, verapamil, diltiazem, quinine, quinidine and Ba2+ inhibit these K+ channels. As apparent from kinetic studies the mechanisms of inhibition are different for the various blockers. The TAL K+ channels are downregulated by increasing cytosolic Ca2+ activity. Cytosolic adenosine trisphosphate (ATP) has a similar effect. This ATP inhibition is Ca2+ dependent. The affinity to ATP is augmented by increasing Ca2+. Cytosolic alkalinity increases the open probability of these channels, and cytosolic acidification has the opposite effect. This pH dependence is very marked. A change by 0.2 pH units leads to a more than twofold change in the open-channel probability. The basolateral chloride conductance reflects the properties of an outwardly rectifying 30- to 60-pS Cl- channel. This channel behaves, in many respects, like the Cl- channels of a multitude of Cl- transporting epithelia. It is characterized by two open and two closed states. It is highly selective for Cl- as compared with larger anions, and it is inhibited reversibly by Cl- channel blockers such as 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino)-benzoate.     

Separation of renal medullary cells: isolation of cells from the thick ascending limb of Henle's loop

A homogeneous population of single cells from the thick ascending limb of Henle's loop (TALH) has been isolated from the rabbit kidney medulla. A total medullary cell suspension was prepared by a series of collagenase, hyaluronidase, and trypsin digestions and separated on a Ficoll gradient (2.6-30.7% wt/wt). Morphologically, the cells isolated from the TALH were homogeneous and showed polarity within their plasma membrane structure, with a few blunt microvilli on their apical surface and deep infoldings of the basal-lateral membrane. Biochemically, the TALH cells were highly enriched in calcitonin-sensitive adenylate cyclase and Na, K-ATPase. Alkaline phosphatase and arginine vasopressin- sensitive adenylate cyclase, highly concentrated in proximal tubule and collecting duct, were present only in low concentrations in the TALH cells. Additionally, furosemide, a diuretic inhibiting sodium chloride transport in the TALH in vivo, inhibited oxygen consumption of the TALH cells in a dose-dependent manner. The TALH cells were viable, as judged by morphological appearance, trypan blue exclusion, the response of oxygen consumption to 2,4-dinitrophenol, succinate and ouabain, and the cellular Na, K and ATP levels.     

A Ca2-activated cation-selective channel in the basolateral membrane of the cortical thick ascending limb of Henle's loop of the mouse

The patch-clamp technique was used to investigate the properties of a cation-selective channel in the basolateral membrane of microdissected collagenase-treated fragments of cortical thick ascending limbs of Henle's loop from mouse kidney. The channel activity was seldom observed in cell-attached patches (2 out 15 studied cases). In inside-out excised patches immersed in symmetrical NaCl Ringer's solutions, the unit channel conductance was ohmic and ranged from 22 to 33 pS (mean, 26.8 +/- 0.6 pS, n = 24). When NaCl was replaced by KCl (n = 8) or sodium gluconate (n = 2) on the cytoplasmic side of the membrane, single-channel currents still reversed at 0 mV and the conductance was unchanged. The reversal potential was +28.8 +/- 0.4 mV (n = 8) when a NaCl concentration (140 vs. 42 mmol/l) gradient was applied, close to the expected value (approx. 30 mV) for a cation selective channel. The channel was found to discriminate poorly between Na+, K+, Cs+, and Li+ ions. The activity of the channel was not clearly voltage-dependent but was dependent upon the free Ca2+ concentration on the cytoplasmic side of the membrane. We conclude that the channel resembles the non-selective cation channel which has been previously described in several tissues.     

Effect of tubular inhomogeneities on filter properties of thick ascending limb of Henle's loop

We used a simple mathematical model of rat thick ascending limb (TAL) of the loop of Henle to predict the impact of spatially inhomogeneous NaCl permeability, spatially inhomogeneous NaCl active transport, and spatially inhomogeneous tubular radius on luminal NaCl concentration when sustained, sinusoidal perturbations were superimposed on steady-state TAL flow. A mathematical model previously devised by us that used homogeneous TAL transport and fixed TAL radius predicted that such perturbations result in TAL luminal fluid NaCl concentration profiles that are standing waves. That study also predicted that nodes in NaCl concentration occur at the end of the TAL when the tubular fluid transit time equals the period of a periodic perturbation, and that, for non-nodal periods, sinusoidal perturbations generate non-sinusoidal oscillations (and thus a series of harmonics) in NaCl concentration at the TAL end. In the present study we find that the inhomogeneities transform the standing waves and their associated nodes into approximate standing waves and approximate nodes. The impact of inhomogeneous NaCl permeability is small. However, for inhomogeneous active transport or inhomogeneous radius, the oscillations for non-nodal periods tend to be less sinusoidal and more distorted than in the homogeneous case and to thus have stronger harmonics. Both the homogeneous and non-homogeneous cases predict that the TAL, in its transduction of flow oscillations into concentration oscillations, acts as a low-pass filter, but the inhomogeneities result in a less effective filter that has accentuated non-linearities.     

Regulation of angiotensin II receptors in the medullary thick ascending limb

Angiotensin II (Ang II) is an important regulator of the function of medullary thick ascending limb of loop of Henle (MTAL). Recent studies showed that changes in Ang II receptor expression occur and underlie changes in the function of proximal tubules during altered sodium intake. The present experiment was designed to determine (1) whether expression of the type 1 Ang II (AT1) receptor in the MTAL is regulated by altered sodium intake, and (2) the specific pathway(s) mediating sodium-induced AT1 expression in the MTAL. Wistar rats were fed a normal sodium (0.5%, NS), low sodium (0.07%, LS), or high sodium (4%, HS) diet for 2 weeks. Northern blot analysis and radioligand binding showed that in rats fed a normal sodium diet the rank of order for both AT1 mRNA expression and receptor density was outer medulla > cortex > inner medulla. Sodium restriction significantly increased both AT1 mRNA expression and receptor density in the outer medulla. In contrast, neither AT1 mRNA expression nor receptor density in the outer medulla was altered by sodium loading. Losartan treatment (3 mg/kg/per day by oral gavage for 2 weeks) prevented low sodium-induced upregulation of the AT1 receptor in the outer medulla, but it had no effect on AT1 expression in the outer medulla of rats fed a normal sodium diet. Highly purified suspensions of MTAL were isolated from rats fed a normal or low sodium diet. Low sodium intake significantly increased AT1 mRNA level by 184% and AT1 receptor density by 58% in MTALs. Primary cultures of MTAL cells were treated with PBS, Ang II (10^-8 M), and Ang II + 17 octadecynoic (17 ODYA, 10 M). Ang II caused about 2-fold increase in AT1 mRNA levels, and this increase was diminished by about 30% by the addition of 17 ODYA. We conclude that (1) sodium restriction but not sodium loading increases AT1 receptor expression in the MTAL, (2) low sodium-induced upregulation of the AT1 receptor in the MTAL is Ang II-dependent, and (3) Ang II-induced upregulation of the AT1 receptor in the MTAL is mediated, at least in part, by cytochrome P450 pathways.     

Tamm-Horsfall protein-mRNA synthesis is localized to the thick ascending limb of Henle's loop in rat kidney

Tamm-Horsfall protein (THP) has been previously detected in cells of the thick ascending limb of Henle's loop (TAL) of different mammalian species using immunocytochemical methods. A nearly complete identity between THP and uromodulin, an immunosuppressive glycoprotein present in the urine of pregnant females, has been established recently. This paper describes the cellular location of THP mRNA by high-resolution in situ hybridization using a [35S]-labeled human uromodulin cRNA (antisense-) probe of a length of 665 base pairs. Control experiments were performed using an mRNA (sense-) probe of the same length. The probe was hybridized to frozen sections of the rat kidney. THP mRNA distribution in the kidney was found to be homologous to the immunocytochemical labeling pattern: Autoradiographic signal was present along the entire length of the TAL including the post-macula segment which leads to the distal convoluted tubule. Tubular cells of the macula densa were negative. Labeling intensity of the TAL epithelium was found to increase from the origin of the TAL at the transition between inner and outer medulla to its end beyond the macula densa. Labeling of the medullary segment in the inner stripe was weak, whereas outer medullary and cortical segments very strongly expressed THP mRNA. The glomerulus, the portions of the nephron proximal to the TAL, the distal convoluted tubule as well as the collecting duct system were negative.     

Tamm-Horsfall protein-mRNA synthesis is localized to the thick ascending limb of Henle's loop in rat kidney

Summary Tamm-Horsfall protein (THP) has been previously detected in cells of the thick ascending limb of Henle's loop (TAL) of different mammalian species using immunocytochemical methods. A nearly complete identity between THP and uromodulin, an immunosuppressive glycoprotein present in the urine of pregnant females, has been established recently. This paper describes the cellular location of THP mRNA by high-resolution in situ hybridization using a [³⁵S]-labeled human uromodulin cRNA (antisense-) probe of a length of 665 base pairs. Control experiments were performed using an mRNA (sense-) probe of the same length. The probe was hybridized to frozen sections of the rat kidney. THP mRNA distribution in the kidney was found to be homologous to the immunocytochemical labeling pattern: Autoradiographic signal was present along the entire length of the TAL including the post-macula segment which leads to the distal convoluted tubule. Tubular cells of the macula densa were negative. Labeling intensity of the TAL epithelium was found to increase from the origin of the TAL at the transition between inner and outer medulla to its end beyond the macula densa. Labeling of the medullary segment in the inner stripe was weak, whereas outer medullary and cortical segments very strongly expressed THP mRNA. The glomerulus, the portions of the nephron proximal to the TAL, the distal convoluted tubule as well as the collecting duct system were negative.     

Lack of inhibition of vasopressin-stimulated NA+K+ATPase by atrial natriuretic factor in the rat renal medullary thick ascending limb of Henle's loop

The anti-diuretic hormone, arginine vasopressin (AVP) stimulates the activity of Na+K+ATPase in the rat renal medullary thick ascending limb of Henle's loop (mTAL). Atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) has been suggested to exert a tubular effect on the mammalian nephron, perhaps in part, by interacting with other hormones. In the present study, we investigated the effect of rat ANF with and without AVP upon mTAL Na+K+ATPase activity using cytochemical methods. ANF alone failed to inhibit or stimulate Na+K+ATPase activity in mTAL at any of the concentrations tested (10 nmol-0.1 pmol l-1). Unlike the rat hypothalamic digitalis-like factor, ANF (10 nmol-10 fmol l-1) did not inhibit Na+K+ATPase activity after stimulation with AVP (1 fmol l-1) for either 4 or 10 min. The results suggest that ANF does not exert an effect on mTAL, either alone or in conjunction with AVP.     

Short-term stimulation of cellular autophagy by furosemide in the thick ascending limb of Henle's loop in the rat kidney

Summary In an effort to investigate the functional relationship between cell-specific work and intracellular degradative processes, the effect of furosemide on cellular autophagy was investigated in two different portions of the nephron, namely, the thick ascending limb of Henle's loop (TAL), which is a main target of this drug, and the proximal convoluted tubule (PCT) as a reference structure. Eight male adult rats were treated with furosemide (60 mg/kg body weight, s.c.). Eight control animals received physiological saline. 1 to 4 h after the injections the animals were killed by perfusion fixation. Small specimens of kidney tissue from the inner stripe of the outer medulla and from the outer cortex were processed for electron microscopy; they were investigated morphometrically for volume fraction and numerical density of autophagic vacuoles (AVs). A significant increase of both parameters (volume fraction: 0.42 × 10^-4 to 1.09 × 10^-4; numerical density: 4.2 × 10⁵/mm³ to 15.5 × 10⁵/mm³) was seen under the influence of furosemide in TAL cells, whereas PCT cells did not show a significant increase in volume fraction or any increase in numerical density of AVs. These data suggest that the functional unloading of TAL, via blocking of the Na⁺- 2Cl^- — K⁺ co-transport by furosemide, results in adaptative structural unloading, i.e., an increased sequestration of cytoplasmic components into AVs, within a short-time interval.     

Role of Ca2+-activated K+ channel in regulation of NaCl reabsorption in thick ascending limb of Henle's loop

1. Reabsorption of NaCl in the thick ascending limb of Henle's loop involves the integrated function of the Na+,K+,Cl- -cotransport system and a Ca2+-activated K+ channel in the luminal membrane with the Na+,K+-pump and a net Cl- conductance in the basolateral membrane. 2. Assay of K+ channel activity after reconstitution into phospholipid vesicles shows that the K+ channel is stimulated by Ca2+ in physiological concentrations and that its activity is regulated by calmodulin and phosphorylation from cAMP dependent protein kinase. 3. For purification luminal plasma membrane vesicles are isolated and solubilized in CHAPS. K+ channel protein is isolated by affinity chromatography on calmodulin columns. The purified protein has high Ca2+-activated K+ channel activity after reconstitution into vesicles. 4. The purified K+ channel consists of two proteins of 51 and 36 kDa. Phosphorylation from cAMP dependent protein kinase stimulates K+ channel activity and labels the 51 kDa band. The 36 kDa band is rapidly cleaved by trypsin and may be involved in Ca2+ stimulation. 5. Opening of the K+ channel by Ca2+ in physiological concentrations and regulation by calmodulin and phosphorylation by protein kinase may mediate kinetic and hormonal regulation of NaCl transport across the tubule cells in TAL.     

Proteomic analysis of cellular response to osmotic stress in thick ascending limb of Henle's loop (TALH) cells

Epithelial cells of the thick ascending limb of Henle's loop (TALH cells) play a major role in the urinary concentrating mechanism. They are normally exposed to variable and often very high osmotic stress, which is particularly due to high sodium and chloride reabsorption and very low water permeability of the luminal membrane. It is already established that elevation of the activity of aldose reductase and hence an increase in intracellular sorbitol are indispensable for the osmotic adaptation and stability of the TALH cells. To identify new molecular factors potentially associated with the osmotic stress-resistant phenotype in kidney cells, TALH cells exhibiting low or high levels of resistance to osmotic stress were characterized using proteomic tools. Two-dimensional gel analysis showed a total number of 40 proteins that were differentially expressed in TALH cells under osmotic stress. Twenty-five proteins were overexpressed, whereas 15 proteins showed a down-regulation. Besides the sorbitol pathway enzyme aldose reductase, whose expression was 15 times increased, many other metabolic enzymes like glutathione S-transferase, malate dehydrogenase, lactate dehydrogenase, alpha enolase, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, and triose-phosphate isomerase were up-regulated. Among the cytoskeleton proteins and cytoskeleton-associated proteins vimentin, cytokeratin, tropomyosin 4, and annexins I, II, and V were up-regulated, whereas tubulin and tropomyosins 1, 2, and 3 were down-regulated. The heat shock proteins alpha-crystallin chain B, HSP70, and HSP90 were found to be overexpressed. In contrast to the results in oxidative stress the endoplasmic reticulum stress proteins like glucose-regulated proteins (GRP78, GRP94, and GRP96), calreticulin, and protein-disulfide isomerase were down-regulated under hypertonic stress.     

Increased Ca++ or mg++ concentration reduces relative tight-junction permeability to Na+ in the cortical thick ascending limb of Henle's loop of rabbit kidney

We have tested whether increased Ca++ and Mg++ concentrations have an effect on transepithelial voltage (PDte) and transepithelial resistance (Rte) in isolated perfused cortical thick ascending limbs (cTAL) of rabbit kidney. The divalent cations added at 2.5, 5.0 and 10.0 mmol.l-1 to the lumen or peritubular bath perfusate led to a concentration-dependent increase in Rte. The maximal response in Rte was observed between 5 and 10 mmol.l-1. No significant change in active transepithelial potential difference (PDte) was observed. The increase in Rte still occurred when the transcellular current was reduced by Ba++ (3 mmol.l-1) added to the lumen perfusate. This suggests that the increase in Rte caused by Ca++ and Mg++ is due to a modification of the paracellular shunt pathway. In the absence of active transport, i.e. when furosemide (5.10(-5) mol.l-1) was added to the lumen perfusate. Ca++ and Mg++ reduced the transepithelial diffusion potential generated by a NaCl gradient established across the epithelium, and thus produced a reduction of the relative permeability for Na+ over Cl- (PNa+/PCl-) of the paracellular shunt pathway. This indicates that divalent cations increase Rte by reducing the sodium permeability of the tight junctions. The observed Ca++ and Mg++ induced reduction of the sodium permeability of the paracellular pathway corresponds to a decrease in net Na+ reabsorption by 5-10%. Since it has been demonstrated that peptide hormones such as parathyrin (PTH) modulate divalent cation and NaCl reabsorptions, in a second series of experiments we tested the effects of PTH (2-20 USP.l-1) and dbcAMP (10(-3) mol.l-1) on PDte and Rte of isolated perfused cTAL segments of rabbit nephron. Neither Rte nor PDte were affected by PTH or dbcAMP.     

Active chloride transport in rabbit thick ascending limb of Henle's loop and elasmobranch rectal gland: chloride fluxes in isolated plasma membranes

Summary To investigate directly whether a sodium-potassium-chloride cotransport system is operating in the mammalian thick ascending limb of Henle's loop (TALH) and in the elasmobranch rectal gland, plasma membrane vesicles were prepared from TALH cells isolated from rabbit kidney outer medulla and from rectal glands ofSqualus acanthias, and chloride uptake was measured by a rapid filtration technique. Chloride uptake into TALH vesicles in the presence of a 25 mM Na₂SO₄, 25 mM K₂SO₄ gradient reached 70% of equilibrium at 2.5 min. In the presence of both sodium and potassium, the 15 s chloride uptake was inhibited 35% by 1 mM bumetanide. When either sodium or potassium was removed from the incubation medium, chloride uptake decreased to the level observed in the presence of 1 mM bumetanide. 0.5 mM SITS had no effect on chloride uptake by the plasma membrane vesicles. This sodium and potassium dependent, bumetanide sensitive chloride uptake was also observed under tracer exchange conditions. Chloride uptake into rectal gland plasma membrane vesicles in the presence of a 50 mM Na₂SO₄, 50 mM K₂SO₄ gradient reached 80% of equilibrium at 2.5 min. 1 mM bumetanide inhibited the 15 s uptake of chloride by 34% and removal of either sodium or potassium from the incubation medium reduced chloride uptake to the level observed in the presence of bumetanide under both gradient and tracer exchange conditions. These studies provide additional support for the hypothesis that a sodium-potassium-chloride cotransport system is operating in these epithelia.Abbreviations SITS 4-acetamido-4-isothiocyanato-stilbene-2,2-disulfonic acid - TALH thick ascending limb of Henle's loop     

Calreticulin is crucial for calcium homeostasis mediated adaptation and survival of thick ascending limb of Henle's loop cells under osmotic stress

The thick ascending limb of Henle's loop (TALH) is normally exposed to variable and often very high osmotic stress and involves different mechanisms to counteract this stress. ER resident calcium binding proteins especially calreticulin (CALR) play an important role in different stress balance mechanisms. To investigate the role of CALR in renal epithelial cells adaptation and survival under osmotic stress, two-dimensional fluorescence difference gel electrophoresis combined with mass spectrometry and functional proteomics were performed. CALR expression was significantly altered in TALH cells exposed to osmotic stress, whereas renal inner medullary collecting duct cells and interstitial cells exposed to hyperosmotic stress showed no significant changes in CALR expression. Moreover, a time dependent downregulation of CALR was accompanied with continuous change in the level of free intracellular calcium. Inhibition of the calcium release, through IP3R antagonist, prevented CALR expression alteration under hyperosmotic stress, whereas the cell viability was significantly impaired. Overexpression of wild type CALR in TALH cells resulted in significant decrease in cell viability under hyperosmotic stress. In contrast, the hyperosmotic stress did not have any effect on cells overexpressing the CALR mutant, lacking the calcium-binding domain. Silencing CALR with siRNA significantly improved the cell survival under osmotic stress conditions. Taken together, our data clearly highlight the crucial role of CALR and its calcium-binding role in TALH adaptation and survival under osmotic stress.