Cellular NH4+/K+ transport pathways in mouse medullary thick limb of Henle. Regulation by intracellular pH

Fluorescence and electrophysiological methods were used to determine the effects of intracellular pH (pHi) on cellular NH4+/K+ transport pathways in the renal medullary thick ascending limb of Henle (MTAL) from CD1 mice. Studies were performed in suspensions of MTAL tubules (S-MTAL) and in isolated, perfused MTAL segments (IP-MTAL). Steady-state pHi measured using 2,7-biscarboxyethyl-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein (BCECF) averaged 7.42 +/- 0.02 (mean +/- SE) in S-MTAL and 7.26 +/- 0.04 in IP-MTAL. The intrinsic cellular buffering power of MTAL cells was 29.7 +/- 2.4 mM/pHi unit at pHi values between 7.0 and 7.6, but below a pHi of 7.0 the intrinsic buffering power increased linearly to approximately 50 mM/pHi unit at pHi 6.5. In IP-MTAL, NH4+ entered cells across apical membranes via both Ba(2+)-sensitive pathway and furosemide-sensitive Na+:K+(NH4+):2Cl- cotransport mechanisms. The K0.5 and maximal rate for combined apical entry were 0.5 mM and 83.3 mM/min, respectively. The apical Ba(2+)-sensitive cell conductance in IP-MTAL (Gc), which reflects the apical K+ conductance, was sensitive to pHi over a pHi range of 6.0-7.4 with an apparent K0.5 at pHi approximately 6.7. The rate of cellular NH4+ influx in IP-MTAL due to the apical Ba(2+)-sensitive NH4+ transport pathway was sensitive to reduction in cytosolic pH whether pHi was changed by acidifying the basolateral medium or by inhibition of the apical Na+:H+ exchanger with amiloride at a constant pHo of 7.4. The pHi sensitivities of Gc and apical, Ba(2+)-sensitive NH4+ influx in IP-MTAL were virtually identical. The pHi sensitivity of the Ba(2+)-sensitive NH4+ influx in S-MTAL when exposed to (apical+basolateral) NH4Cl was greater than that observed in IP-MTAL where NH4Cl was added only to apical membranes, suggesting an additional effect of intracellular NH4+/NH3 on NH4+ influx. NH4+ entry via apical Na+:K+ (NH4+):2Cl- cotransport in IP-MTAL was somewhat more sensitive to reductions in pHi than the Ba(2+)-sensitive NH4+ influx pathway; NH4+ entry decreased by 52.9 +/- 13.4% on reducing pHi from 7.31 +/- 0.17 to 6.82 +/- 0.14. These results suggest that pHi may provide a negative feedback signal for regulating the rate of apical NH4+ entry, and hence transcellular NH4+ transport, in the MTAL. A model incorporating these results is proposed which illustrates the role of both pHi and basolateral/intracellular NH4+/NH3 in regulating the rate of transcellular N H4+ transport in the MTAL.     

Effect of angiotensin II on the apical K+ channel in the thick ascending limb of the rat kidney

We have used the patch-clamp technique to study the effect of angiotensin II (AII) on the activity of the apical 70 pS K+ channel and used Na(+)-sensitive fluorescent dye (SBFI) to investigate the effect of AII on intracellular Na+ concentration (Na+i) in the thick ascending limb (TAL) of the rat kidney. Addition of 50 pM AII reversibly reduced NPo, a product of channel open probability (Po) and channel number (N), to 40% of the control value and reduced the Na+i by 26%. The AII (50 pM)-induced decrease in channel activity defined by NPo was partially reversed by addition of 5 microM 17-octadecynoic acid (17-ODYA), an agent which blocks the cytochrome P450 monooxygenase. The notion that P450 metabolites of arachidonic acid (AA) may mediate the inhibitory effect of AII was further suggested by experiments in which addition of 10 nM of 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE) blocked the channel activity in cell-attached patches in the presence of 17-ODYA. We have used gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS) to measure the production of 20-HETE, a major AA metabolite of the P450-dependent pathway in the TAL of the rat. Addition of 50 pM AII increased the production of 20-HETE to 260% of the control value, indicating that 20- HETE may be involved in mediating the effect of AII (50 pM). In contrast to the inhibitory effect of 50 pM AII, addition of 50-100 nM AII increased the channel activity to 270% of the control value and elevated the Na+i by 45%. The effect of AII on the activity of the 70 pS K+ channel was also observed in the presence of 5 microM 17-ODYA and 5 microM calphostin C, an inhibitor of protein kinase C. However, addition of 100 microM NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, abolished completely the AII (50- 100 nM)-induced increase in channel activity and addition of an exogenous nitric oxide (NO) donor, S-nitroso-N-acetyl-penicillamine (SNAP), increased channel activity in the presence of L-NAME. These data suggest that the stimulatory effect of AII is mediated by NO. We conclude that AII has dual effects on the activity of the apical 70 pS K+ channel. The inhibitory effect of AII is mediated by P450-dependent metabolites whereas the stimulatory effect may be mediated via NO.     

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.     

Effect of arachidonic acid on activity of the apical K+ channel in the thick ascending limb of the rat kidney

We have used patch-clamp techniques to study the effects of arachidonic acid (AA) on the activity of the 70-pS K+ channel, the predominant type of the two apical K+ channels operating under physiological conditions in the thick ascending limb (TAL) of the rat kidney. Addition of 5-10 microM AA blocked the activity of the 70-pS K+ channel in both cell- attached and inside-out patches. The inhibitory effect of AA was specific, because application of 10 microM linoleic acid, oleic acid, or palmitic acid failed to mimic the effect of AA. The effect of AA could not be blocked by pretreatment of the TAL tubules with either 5 microM indomethacin (inhibitor of cyclooxygenase) or 4 microM cinnamyl- 3,4-dihydroxy-alpha-cyanocinnamate (CDC) (inhibitor of lipooxygenase). In contrast, addition of 5 microM 17-octadecynoic acid (17-ODYA), an inhibitor of P450 monooxygenases, abolised the effect of AA on the channel activity, indicating that the effect was mediated by cytochrome P450 metabolites of AA. Addition of 10 nM 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE), the main metabolite of the cytochrome P450 metabolic pathway in the medullary TAL, mimicked the inhibitory effect of 10 microM AA. However, addition of 100 nM 19-HETE or 17-HETE had no significant effects and 100 nM 20-carboxy AA (20-COOH) reduced the channel activity by only 20%, indicating that the inhibitory effect of 20-HETE was specific and responsible for the action of AA. Inhibition of the P450 metabolic pathway by either 5 microM 17-ODYA or 12, 12- dibromododec-11-enoic acid (DBDD) dramatically increased the channel activity by 280% in cell-attached patches. The stimulatory effect of 17- ODYA or DBDD was not observed in inside-out patches. The results strongly indicate that 20-HETE is a specific inhibitor for the 70-pS K+ channel and may play an important role in the regulation of the K+ channel activity in the TAL.     

Modification of Ca2+-activated K+ channels in cultured medullary thick ascending limb cells by N-bromoacetamide

Summary Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ channels were studied in cultured medullary thick ascending limb (MTAL) cells using the patch-clamp technique in the inside-out configuration. The Ca²⁺ activation site was modified using N-bromoacetamide (NBA). 1mm NBA in the bath solution, at 2.5 m Ca²⁺ reduces the open probability,P _o , of the channel to <0.01, without an effect on single-channel conductance. NBA-modified channels are still Ca²⁺-sensitive, requiring 25mm Ca²⁺ to raiseP _o to 0.2. Both before and after NBA modification channel openings display at least two distributions, indicative of more than one open state. High Ca²⁺ (1mm) protects the channels from modification. Also presented is a second class of Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ channels which are normally present in MTAL cells which open infrequently at 10 m Ca²⁺ (P _o =0.01) but have aP _o of 0.08 at 1mm Ca²⁺. We can conclude (i) that NBA modifies the channel by shifting Ca²⁺-sensitivity to very high Ca²⁺, (ii) that NBA acts on a site involved in Ca²⁺ gating, and (iii) that a low affinity channel is present in the apical cell membrane with characteristics similar to those of normal channels modified with NBA.     

Isomeric yohimbine alkaloids block calcium-activated K+ channels in medullary thick ascending limb cells of rabbit kidney

Summary The alpha₂-adrenergic antagonist yohimbine (YOH) and the closely related isomers corynanthine (COR) and rauwolscine (RAU) caused brief interruptions in current characteristic of a fast blocker Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ channels in cultured medullary thick ascending limb (MTAL) cells. The apparent dissociation constants (K _app), for COR, YOH, and RAU, respectively, at the intracellular face of the channel in the presence of 200mm K⁺ are 45±1, 98±2, and 310±33 m. TheK _app for COR on the extracellular side also in the presence of 200mm. K⁺ was much greater at 1.6±0.17mm. Increasing K⁺ on the same side as the blocker relieves the blocking reaction. TheK _app for the alkaloids varies with K⁺ in a manner quantitatively consistent with K⁺ and the alkaloids competing for a common binding site. Finally, blocking by the charged form of these alkaloids is voltage dependent with changes inK _app of 86±7 and 94±6 m pere-fold change in voltage for blockers applied either from the inside or outside. The alkaloids block at an electrical distance similar to tetraethylammonium, suggesting that the site within the channel pore of these molecules may be similar.     

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.     

High sodium intake increases HCO(3)- absorption in medullary thick ascending limb through adaptations in basolateral and apical Na+/H+ exchangers

A high sodium intake increases the capacity of the medullary thick ascending limb (MTAL) to absorb HCO(3)(-). Here, we examined the role of the apical NHE3 and basolateral NHE1 Na(+)/H(+) exchangers in this adaptation. MTALs from rats drinking H(2)O or 0.28 M NaCl for 5-7 days were perfused in vitro. High sodium intake increased HCO(3)(-) absorption rate by 60%. The increased HCO(3)(-) absorptive capacity was mediated by an increase in apical NHE3 activity. Inhibiting basolateral NHE1 with bath amiloride eliminated 60% of the adaptive increase in HCO(3)(-) absorption. Thus the majority of the increase in NHE3 activity was dependent on NHE1. A high sodium intake increased basolateral Na(+)/H(+) exchange activity by 89% in association with an increase in NHE1 expression. High sodium intake increased apical Na(+)/H(+) exchange activity by 30% under conditions in which basolateral Na(+)/H(+) exchange was inhibited but did not change NHE3 abundance. These results suggest that high sodium intake increases HCO(3)(-) absorptive capacity in the MTAL through 1) an adaptive increase in basolateral NHE1 activity that results secondarily in an increase in apical NHE3 activity; and 2) an adaptive increase in NHE3 activity, independent of NHE1 activity. These studies support a role for NHE1 in the long-term regulation of renal tubule function and suggest that the regulatory interaction whereby NHE1 enhances the activity of NHE3 in the MTAL plays a role in the chronic regulation of HCO(3)(-) absorption. The adaptive increases in Na(+)/H(+) exchange activity and HCO(3)(-) absorption in the MTAL may play a role in enabling the kidneys to regulate acid-base balance during changes in sodium and volume balance.     

Basolateral P2X receptors mediate inhibition of NaCl transport in mouse medullary thick ascending limb (mTAL)

Extracellular nucleotides regulate epithelial transport via luminal and basolateral P2 receptors. Renal epithelia express multiple P2 receptors, which mediate significant inhibition of solute absorption. Recently, we identified several P2 receptors in the medullary thick ascending limb (mTAL) including luminal and basolateral P2Y(2) receptors (Jensen ME, Odgaard E, Christensen MH, Praetorius HA, Leipziger J. J Am Soc Nephrol 18: 2062-2070, 2007). In addition, we found evidence for a basolateral P2X receptor. Here, we investigate the effect of basolateral ATP on NaCl absorption in isolated, perfused mouse mTALs using the electrical measurement of equivalent short-circuit current (I'(sc)). Nonstimulated mTALs transported at a rate of 1,197 ± 104 μA/cm(2) (n = 10), which was completely blockable with luminal furosemide (100 μM). Basolateral ATP (100 μM) acutely (1 min) and reversibly reduced the absorptive I'(sc). After 2 min, the reduction amounted to 24.4 ± 4.0% (n = 10). The nonselective P2 receptor antagonist suramin blocked the effect. P2Y receptors were found not to be involved in this effect. The P2X receptor agonist 2-methylthio ATP mimicked the ATP effect, and the P2X receptor antagonist periodate-oxidized ATP blocked it. In P2X(7)(-/-) mice, the ATP effect remained unaltered. In contrast, in P2X(4)(-/-) mice the ATP-induced inhibition of transport was reduced. A comprehensive molecular search identified P2X(4), P2X(5), and P2X(1) receptor subunit mRNA in isolated mouse mTALs. These data define that basolateral ATP exerts a significant inhibition of Na(+) absorption in mouse mTAL. Pharmacological, molecular, and knockout mouse data identify a role for the P2X(4) receptor. We suggest that other P2X subunits like P2X(5) are part of the P2X receptor complex. These data provide the novel perspective that an ionotropic receptor and thus a nonselective cation channel causes transport inhibition in an intact renal epithelium.     

Role of lipid rafts in membrane delivery of renal epithelial Na+-K+-ATPase, thick ascending limb

Lipid rafts are cholesterol- and shingolipid-enriched membrane microdomains implicated in membrane signaling and trafficking. To assess renal epithelial raft functions through the characterization of their associated membrane proteins, we have isolated lipid rafts from rat kidney by sucrose gradient fractionation after detergent treatment. The low-density fraction was enriched in cholesterol, sphingolipid, and flotillin-1 known as lipid raft markers. Based on proteomic analysis of the low-density fraction, the protein with the highest significance score was the alpha-subunit of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase (NKA), whose raft association was validated by simultaneous immunoblotting. The beta-subunit of NKA was copurified from the low-density fraction. To test the role of lipid rafts in sorting and membrane delivery of renal-transporting epithelia, we have chosen to study thick ascending limb (TAL) epithelium for its high NKA activity and the property to be stimulated by antidiuretic hormone (ADH). Cultured rabbit TAL cells were studied. Cholesterol depletion and detergent extraction at warmth caused a shift of NKA to the higher-density fractions. Comparative preparations from blood monocytes revealed the absence of NKA from rafts in these nonpolarized cells. Short-term exposure of rabbit TAL cells to ADH (1 h) caused translocation and enhanced raft association of NKA via cAMP activation. Preceding cholesterol depletion prevented this effect. TAL-specific, glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored Tamm Horsfall protein was copurified with NKA in the same raft fraction, suggesting functional interference between these products. These results may have functional implications regarding the turnover, trafficking, and regulated surface expression of NKA as the major basolateral ion transporter of TAL.     

Mitochondrial proteomic analysis reveals deficiencies in oxygen utilization in medullary thick ascending limb of Henle in the Dahl salt-sensitive rat

The renal medullary thick ascending limb (mTAL) of the Dahl salt-sensitive (SS) rat is the site of enhanced NaCl reabsorption and excess superoxide production. In the present studies we isolated mitochondria from mTAL of SS and salt-resistant control strain SS.13(BN) rats on 0.4 and 8% salt diet for 7 days and performed a proteomic analysis. Purity of mTAL and mitochondria isolations exceeded 93.6 and 55%, respectively. Using LC/MS spectral analysis techniques we identified 96 mitochondrial proteins in four biological mTAL mitochondria samples, run in duplicate, as defined by proteins with a false discovery rate <5% and scan count ≥2. Seven of these 96 proteins, including IDH2, ACADM, SCOT, Hsp60, ATPA, EFTu, and VDAC2 were differentially expressed between the two rat strains. Oxygen consumption and high-resolution respirometry analyses showed that mTAL cells and the mitochondria in the outer medulla of SS rats fed high-salt diet exhibited lower rates of oxygen utilization compared with those from SS.13(BN) rats. These studies advance the conventional proteomic paradigm of focusing exclusively upon whole tissue homogenates to a focus upon a single cell type and specific subcellular organelle. The results reveal the importance of a largely unexplored role for deficiencies of mTAL mitochondrial metabolism and oxygen utilization in salt-induced hypertension and renal medullary oxidative stress.     

Ca2(+)-activated K+ channels from rabbit kidney medullary thick ascending limb cells expressed in Xenopus oocytes.

Ca2(+)-activated K+ channels are present in muscle, nerve, pancreas, macrophages, and renal cells. They are important in such diverse functions as neurotransmitter release, muscle excitability, pancreatic secretion, and cell volume regulation. Although much is known about the biophysics of Ca2(+)-activated K+ channels, the molecular structure, cDNA and amino acid sequences are unknown. We injected size-fractionated mRNA isolated from cultured rabbit kidney medullary thick ascending limb cells in Xenopus oocytes and observed newly expressed K+ currents using two-microelectrode voltage-clamp technique. The expressed K+ currents are Ca2+ dependent and inhibited by charybdotoxin, a specific blocker of Ca2(+)-activated K+ channels. Amplitudes of the current ranged from 30 nA to more than 1 microA at a membrane potential of +30 mV. Reversal potential of the current suggested a K(+)-selective channel. The peak activity of Ca2(+)-activated K+ channels were observed in fractions corresponding to a message RNA with size of approximately 4.5 kilobases.     

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.     

Ultrastructure of the thick ascending limb of Henle in the rat kidney

The thick ascending limb of Henle (TAL) in the rat until recently has been considered a morphologically homogeneous structure despite physiologic and biochemical evidence to the contrary. The present study was designed to examine the ultrastructural characteristics of the TAL in the inner cortex and the outer and inner stripes of the outer medulla using qualitative and quantitative transmission electron microscopy. Kidneys of male Sprague-Dawley rats were preserved by in vivo perfusion with glutaraldehyde for light and electron microscopy. The peritubular diameter and cell height were determined by direct measurements on tubule cross sections. Morphometric analyses were performed on montages of tubule cross sections. The peritubular diameter of the TAL was similar in the three regions under investigation, but the TAL cells were taller in the inner stripe than in the inner cortex and outer stripe. Morphometry revealed significant differences between the three regions with respect to the mean tubular cross-sectional area (AT), the surface density (SV), and the surface area per mm of tubule (ST) of apical and basolateral plasma membranes, and the volume density (VV) of mitochondria. The major morphologic division appeared to be between the inner stripe segment and the remainder of the TAL. These findings document the presence of significant morphologic heterogeneity of the rat TAL.     

Increase of sodium delivery stimulates the mitochondrial respiratory chain H2O2 production in rat renal medullary thick ascending limb

The mitochondria-rich epithelial cells of the renal medullary thick ascending limb (mTAL) reabsorb nearly 25% of filtered sodium (Na(+)) and are a major source of cellular reactive oxygen species. Although we have shown that delivery of Na(+) to the mTAL of rats increases superoxide (O(2)(·-)) production in mTAL, little is known about H(2)O(2) production, given the lack of robust and selective fluorescent indicators for determining changes within the whole cell, specifically in the mitochondria. The present study determined the effect of increased tubular flow and Na(+) delivery to mTAL on the production of mitochondrial H(2)O(2) in mTAL. H(2)O(2) responses were determined in isolated, perfused mTAL of Sprague-Dawley rats using a novel mitochondrial selective fluorescent H(2)O(2) indicator, mitochondria peroxy yellow 1, and a novel, highly sensitive and stable cytosolic-localized H(2)O(2) indicator, peroxyfluor-6 acetoxymethyl ester. The results showed that mitochondrial H(2)O(2) and cellular fluorescent signals increased progressively over a period of 30 min following increased tubular perfusion (5-20 nl/min), reaching levels of statistical significance at ～10-12 min. Responses were inhibited with rotenone or antimycin A (inhibitors of the electron-transport chain), polyethylene glycol-catalase and by reducing Na(+) transport with furosemide or ouabain. Inhibition of membrane NADPH-oxidase with apocynin had no effect on mitochondrial H(2)O(2) production. Cytoplasmic H(2)O(2) (peroxyfluor-6 acetoxymethyl ester) increased in parallel with mitochondrial H(2)O(2) (mitochondria peroxy yellow 1) and was partially attenuated (～65%) by rotenone and completely inhibited by apocynin. The present data provide clear evidence that H(2)O(2) is produced in the mitochondria in response to increased flow and delivery of Na(+) to the mTAL, and that whole cell H(2)O(2) levels are triggered by the mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production. The mitochondrial production of H(2)O(2) may represent an important target for development of more effective antioxidant therapies.     

Na-P(i) cotransporter type I activity causes a transient intracellular alkalinization during ATP depletion in rabbit medullary thick ascending limb cells

The cellular pathophysiology of renal ischemia-reperfusion injury was investigated in primary cell cultures from rabbit medullary thick ascending limb (MTAL). Metabolic inhibition (MI) was achieved with cyanide and 2-deoxyglucose. Sixty minutes of MI caused a profound but reversible decrease in intracellular concentration of ATP ([ATP]i). Intracellular pH (pHi) first decreased after initiation of MI, followed by a transient alkalinization. When [ATP]i reached its lowest value (<1% of control), the cells slowly acidified to reach a stable pHi of 6.92 after 50 min of MI. In the presence of EIPA (10 micromol/L), the pattern of changes in pHi was unchanged and acidification was not increased, indicating that the Na+/H+ exchangers were inactive during ATP depletion. When inorganic phosphate (P(i)) or Na+ was omitted from the apical solutions during MI, the transient alkalinization was no longer observed and the cytosol slowly acidified. Experiments on Na+-dependent alkalinizations revealed the presence of a Na-P(i) cotransporter in the apical cell membrane. With indirect immunofluorescence, the Na-P(i) cotransporter expressed in these primary cell cultures could be identified as Na-P(i) type I. Although the exact physiological role of Na-P(i) type I still is unresolved, these experiments demonstrate that apical Na-P(i) type I activity is increased at the onset of ATP depletion in MTAL cells.     

Effects of 20-HETE on Na+ transport and Na+ -K+ -ATPase activity in the thick ascending loop of Henle

Previous studies have indicated that 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE) inhibits Na+ transport in the medullary thick ascending loop of Henle (mTALH), but the mechanisms involved remain uncertain. The present study compared the effects of 20-HETE with those of ouabain and furosemide on intracellular Na+ concentration ([Na+]i), Na+ -K+ -ATPase activity, and 86Rb+ uptake, an index of Na+ transport, in mTALH isolated from rats. Ouabain (2 mM) increased, whereas furosemide (100 microM) decreased, [Na+]i in the mTALH of rats. Ouabain and furosemide inhibited 86Rb+ uptake by 91 and 30%, respectively. 20-HETE (1 microM) had a similar effect as ouabain and increased [Na+]i from 19 +/- 1 to 30 +/- 1 mM. 20-HETE reduced Na+ -K+ -ATPase activity by 30% and 86Rb+ uptake by 37%, but it had no effect on 86Rb+ uptake or [Na+]i in the mTALH of rats pretreated with ouabain. 20-HETE inhibited 86Rb+ uptake by 12% and increased [Na+]i by 19 mM in mTALH pretreated with furosemide. These findings indicate that 20-HETE secondarily inhibits Na+ transport in the mTALH of the rat, at least, in part by inhibiting the Na+ -K+ -ATPase activity and raising [Na+]i.     

Na+-H+ exchange at the apical membrane of Necturus gallbladder. Extracellular and intracellular pH studies

The mechanism of luminal solution acidification was studied in Necturus gallbladder by measurement of mucosal solution and intracellular pH with glass electrodes. When the gallbladder was bathed by a Na-Ringer's solution it acidified the luminal side by a Na+-dependent, amiloride- inhibitable process. In the presence of ouabain, acidification was reduced but could be stimulated to a rate greater than that under control conditions by the imposition of an inwardly directed Na+ gradient. These results suggest that luminal acidification results from Na+-H+ exchange at the apical membrane and not by diffusion of metabolic CO2. Li+ can substitute for Na+ but K+, Rb+, Cs+, and tetramethylammonium (TMA+) cannot. The maximal rate of exchange was about five times greater for Na+ than for Li+. Intracellular pH (pHi) was measured with recessed-tip glass microelectrodes; with the tissue bathed in Na-Ringer's solution (pH 7.75), pHi was 7.51 +/- 0.04. After inhibition of Na+-H+ exchange by mucosal perfusion with amiloride (1 mM) or by complete Na+ replacement with TMA+, phi fell reversibly by 0.15 and 0.22 pH units, respectively. These results support the conclusion that Na+-H+ exchange at the apical membrane is the mechanism of luminal acidification and is involved in the maintenance of steady state pHi.     

Basolateral LPS inhibits NHE3 and HCOFormula absorption through TLR4/MyD88-dependent ERK activation in medullary thick ascending limb

Sepsis is associated with defects in renal tubule function, but the underlying mechanisms are incompletely understood. Recently, we demonstrated that Gram-negative bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) inhibits HCO(3)(-) absorption in the medullary thick ascending limb (MTAL) through activation of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). Here, we examined the mechanisms responsible for inhibition of HCO(3)(-) absorption by basolateral LPS. Adding LPS to the bath decreased HCO(3)(-) absorption by 30% in rat and mouse MTALs perfused in vitro. The inhibition of HCO(3)(-) absorption was eliminated by the mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MEK)/ERK inhibitors U0126 and PD98059. LPS induced a rapid (<15 min) and sustained (up to 60 min) increase in ERK phosphorylation in microdissected MTALs that was blocked by PD98059. The effects of basolateral LPS to activate ERK and inhibit HCO(3)(-) absorption were eliminated in MTALs from TLR4(-/-) and myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88)(-/-) mice but were preserved in MTALs from TIR (Toll/interleukin-1 receptor) domain-containing adapter-inducing interferon-β (Trif)(-/-) mice. Basolateral LPS decreased apical Na(+)/H(+) exchanger 3 NHE3 activity through a decrease in maximal velocity (V(max)). The inhibition of NHE3 by LPS was eliminated by MEK/ERK inhibitors. LPS inhibited HCO(3)(-) absorption despite the presence of physiological stimuli that activate ERK in the MTAL. We conclude that basolateral LPS inhibits HCO(3)(-) absorption in the MTAL through activation of a TLR4/MyD88/MEK/ERK pathway coupled to inhibition of NHE3. These studies identify NHE3 as a target of TLR4 signaling in the MTAL and show that bacterial molecules can impair the absorptive functions of renal tubules through inhibition of this exchanger. The ERK pathway links TLR4 to downstream modulation of ion transport proteins and represents a potential target for treatment of sepsis-induced renal tubule dysfunction.