Calcium-induced activation of the rat vascular myocyte Na+/H+ exchanger isoform-1.

An established intermediate phenotype of human hypertension and diabetic nephropathy is an elevation of Na+/H+ exchanger (NHE) activity, but the mechanism for this is unclear. This phenotype is maintained in vascular myocytes from the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) compared with the normotensive Wistar Kyoto rat (WKY). Since intracellular calcium levels ([Ca2+]i) following agonist stimulation were elevated in cells from both hypertensive humans and SHR, we have examined the role of calcium-calmodulin (CaM) in the mechanism of increased NHE activity in vascular myocytes of SHR by determining the activity and phosphorylation state of NHE isoform-1 (NHE-1) in cells from SHR and WKY when [Ca2+]i was elevated by the ionophores A23187 or ionomycin. NHE activity was measured using fluorometry and NHE-1 phosphorylation by immunoprecipitating the exchanger from 32P-orthophosphate-labeled cells with a polyclonal NHE-1-specific antibody. The ionophore A23187 increased [Ca2+]i in both cell types to approximately 700 to 800 nmol x L(-1), and led to stimulation of NHE-1 activity only in WKY myocytes, with no effect on SHR cells. An inhibitor of CaM kinase II (KN-62) failed to abolish stimulation of NHE-1 by A23187 in WKY cells, and had no effect on unstimulated NHE-1 activity in both cell types. Ionomycin also elevated [Ca2+]i in both cell types to approximately 1,000 nmol x L(-1) and activated NHE-1 activity in only WKY cells. Activation of NHE-1 in WKY cells by an increased [Ca2+]i was not mediated by an increase in NHE-1 phosphorylation, whether in the presence or absence of KN-62. The elevated NHE-1 phosphorylation in SHR cells was not affected by elevated [Ca2+]i or KN-62. Calmodulin-agarose beads bound NHE-1 extracted from SHR cells to a lesser extent than that from WKY cells. We conclude that calcium-induced NHE-1 activation in WKY cells was not mediated by CaM kinase II. The elevated NHE-1 activity and phosphorylation of SHR cells was not further modulated by increased [Ca2+]i, and was also independent of CaM kinase II. Non-phosphorylation-dependent mechanisms of activation of NHE-1 may therefore be responsible for alterations of NHE-1 activity in these cells, such as the direct binding of CaM to NHE-1. This direct binding of CaM to NHE-1 may be impaired in SHR compared with WKY cells.

Phorbol ester activation of the rat vascular myocyte Na(+)-H(+) exchanger isoform 1.

Vascular myocytes from the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) demonstrate elevated Na(+)-H(+) exchanger activity associated with increased cell proliferation and hyperresponsiveness to agonists such as phorbol esters. Since the Na(+)-H(+) exchanger isoform 1 (NHE-1) is stimulated by protein kinase C, we have investigated the effects of phorbol esters on NHE-1 activity and its phosphorylation in vascular myocytes of these rats. SHR cells demonstrated a larger alkalinization response to 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate than Wistar-Kyoto rat (WKY) cells. Kinetic analyses indicated that whereas 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate increased the maximal transport capacity of NHE-1 in both cell types, affinity for H+ was increased in WKY cells and cooperativity for H+ at the internal modifier site was reduced in SHR cells. In neither cell type was the subcellular distribution of NHE-1 altered by phorbol ester stimulation. NHE-1 phosphorylation was markedly reduced in WKY cells stimulated by the phorbol ester, an effect abolished by inhibition of protein kinase C. In contrast, NHE-1 phosphorylation in quiescent SHR cells was approximately double that of WKY cells and was reduced after phorbol ester treatment. Inhibition of protein kinase C in SHR cells led to a marked elevation of NHE-1 phosphorylation that was not associated with a change in the exchanger activity, but WKY cells exhibited a small, insignificant rise in NHE-1 phosphorylation. Thus, the kinetic responses of NHE-1 to phorbol esters in vascular myocytes of these rat strains are different, the changes in exchanger kinetics of SHR resembling those described in human hypertension. NHE-1 phosphorylation has an inverse relationship with protein kinase C activity. However, modulation of NHE-1 phosphorylation may not be associated with concurrent alterations in activity, indicating a role for non-phosphorylation-dependent mechanisms.

Glucose-induced changes in activity and phosphorylation of the Na+/H+ exchanger, NHE-1, in vascular myocytes from Wistar-Kyoto and spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Increased Na+/H+ exchanger (NHE) activity has been demonstrated in cells from patients with hypertension and diabetic nephropathy. Vascular myocytes from the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) also exhibit increased NHE activity as compared with cells from the normotensive Wistar Kyoto rat (WKY). The interaction of increased glucose concentrations with NHE activity is unclear. The effect of glucose on NHE activity, NHE-1 (isoform 1) protein expression, and phosphorylation of cultured vascular myocytes from these rat strains was thus investigated. NHE activity was determined fluorometrically with 2',7'-bis(2-carboxyethyl)-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein (BCECF). A rabbit NHE-1-specific polyclonal antibody was used (1) to measure NHE-1 abundance in Western blots of cell extracts and (2) for immunoprecipitating 32P-labeled NHE-1. Cells from SHR exhibited increased NHE activity and NHE-1 phosphorylation as compared with cells from WKY, with similar NHE-1 protein content per cell. Incubation in 25 mmol.L-1 glucose for 24 hours led to increased NHE activity only in WKY cultures, with no change in NHE-1 protein but a concomitantly reduced NHE-1 phosphorylation. Changes in NHE activity in WKY cells were reversed by inhibition of protein kinase C. Incubation of SHR cells with 25 mmol.L-1 glucose did not enhance the increased NHE activity or NHE-1 phosphorylation present in these cells. Thus, high glucose levels have disparate effects on NHE activity and NHE-1 phosphorylation in cells from different rat strains. The glucose-induced increase in NHE-1 turnover number in WKY cells is not mediated by an increase in its direct phosphorylation, but is dependent on protein kinase C.

Phosphorylation and activity of Na+/H+ exchanger isoform 1 of immortalized lymphoblasts in diabetic nephropathy.

In both essential hypertension and diabetic nephropathy (DN), the ubiquitous cellular Na+/H+ exchanger (NHE) exhibits altered kinetics with increased transport activity. The mechanism for this phenotype and its dependence on the presence of serum are unknown, but increased lymphoblast NHE activity in DN has been attributed to a defect in post-translational processing of NHE-1 rather than an increased cellular exchanger number. Phosphorylation of NHE-1 has been proposed to play a role in its activation in a variety of cell models. We have examined, therefore, the role of NHE-1 phosphorylation and the effect of serum in determining the increased NHE-1 activity in lymphoblasts from patients with DN. Cells from these patients exhibited increased NHE activity in the presence and absence of fetal calf serum (range 42-59%, P < 0.005, analysis of variance) and an increased proliferation rate (P < 0.01) when compared with cells from both normoalbuminuric diabetic patients and non-diabetic control subjects. However, NHE-1 abundance was very similar among all groups in the presence and absence of serum, indicating that increased NHE activity in cells of nephropathy patients was due to an increased turnover number. This nephropathy phenotype was not accompanied by an increased net phosphorylation of NHE-1 in the presence or absence of serum. Our findings suggest that increased NHE-1 activity in cells of DN patients is independent of the presence of serum and is not attributable to altered NHE-1 phosphorylation. Additional post-translational mechanisms for activation of NHE-1, therefore, may be involved.

Na+/H+ exchanger isoform-1 abundance in skin fibroblasts of type I diabetic patients with nephropathy.

In diabetic nephropathy and essential hypertension, the cellular Na+/H+ exchanger (NHE) exhibits increased activity. Whether this reflects increased numbers of NHE isoform-1 (NHE-1) transporters or increased turnover per molecule has not been established. We have used a specific polyclonal antibody directed toward the C-terminal of NHE-1 to measure NHE-1 content in cultured skin fibroblasts from diabetic patients with (DN) and without (DCON) nephropathy and normal controls (CON). NHE-1 content in fibroblasts from DN subjects was significantly less than that in the other two groups. This suggests that increased NHE activity in diabetic nephropathy is attributed to increased NHE-1 turnover per site rather than increased NHE-1 expression.

Na(+)-H+ antiporter phenotype, abundance, and phosphorylation of immortalized lymphoblasts from humans with hypertension.

Previous studies have demonstrated an elevated Na(+)-H+ exchanger activity in various cell types from patients with essential hypertension. The phenotype of an increased maximal transport capacity is preserved in Epstein-Barr virus immortalized lymphoblasts from hypertensive patients. The mechanisms underlying this abnormality are unclear. In this study, we used lymphoblasts from hypertensive patients and normotensive control subjects with and without a family history of hypertension to determine (1) Na(+)-H+ exchanger activity using fluorometry with the pH indicator 2',7'-bis(carboxyethyl)-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein, (2) Na(+)-H+ exchanger isoform 1 abundance with specific polyclonal antibodies, and (3) Na(+)-H+ exchanger phosphorylation by immunoprecipitation of the 32P-labeled transporter. Na(+)-H+ exchanger activity (in millimoles per liter per minute) measured when pHi was clamped at 6.0 was significantly higher in cells from hypertensive patients (18.8 +/- 0.6, P < .001) and those subjects with a family history of hypertension (16.4 +/- 0.6, P < .001) compared with normotensive control subjects (12.9 +/- 0.6). Exchanger abundance was identical in all three groups of subjects, indicating that increased activity in the hypertensive group was due to an elevated turnover number of the exchanger. Na(+)-H+ exchanger phosphorylation in quiescent cells was significantly elevated in cells from hypertensive patients (1.58 +/- 0.16, P < .001) compared with control subjects (1.00 +/- 0.07), and cells from normotensive subjects with a hypertensive family history showed intermediate values (1.23 +/- 0.14). Identical changes in Na(+)-H+ exchanger function and phosphorylation have been demonstrated in vascular smooth muscle cells from spontaneously hypertensive rats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Na(+)-H+ exchanger isoform 1 phosphorylation in normal Wistar-Kyoto and spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Increased activity of the cellular Na(+)-H+ exchanger (NHE) has been documented in various cell types in essential hypertension and in vascular myocytes of the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR). The mechanism underlying this abnormality is unclear. Because the NHE can be activated by phosphorylation, we examined phosphorylation of the Na(+)-H+ exchanger isoform 1 (NHE-1) as one possible mechanism for its increased turnover number in cultured vascular myocytes of the SHR. A polyclonal rabbit antibody against a fusion protein consisting of beta-galactosidase and the C-terminus of NHE-1 was used to immunoprecipitate 32P-labeled NHE-1 from cell extracts of SHR and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rat vascular myocytes in the absence and presence of 10% fetal calf serum. Immunoprecipitates were separated by SDS-PAGE, and 32P-labeled NHE-1 was quantified from autoradiographs. Similar amounts of NHE-1 protein were detected on Western blots of the cultured vascular myocytes from SHR and WKY rats. In quiescent cells, NHE-1 was significantly more phosphorylated in SHR myocytes than in WKY myocytes (2.17 +/- 0.06-fold enhancement [mean +/- SEM]; P < .001, n = 8). The addition of fetal calf serum to quiescent cells had no significant effect on the phosphorylation of NHE-1 in SHR myocytes. However, NHE-1 phosphorylation fell transiently in serum-treated WKY myocytes, with recovery to control levels after 20 minutes. Measurement of NHE activity using fluorometry confirmed elevated activity in the quiescent SHR myocytes compared with WKY myocytes. Fetal calf serum led to further enhancement of NHE activity in both cell types. These findings suggest that the increased NHE activity in quiescent SHR myocytes may be correlated with enhanced NHE-1 phosphorylation and that serum stimulates NHE activity in both cell types without a further increase in total NHE-1 phosphorylation, indicating a role for non-phosphorylation-dependent regulatory mechanisms.

Glucose-induced changes in turnover of Na+/H+ exchanger of immortalized lymphoblasts from type I diabetic patients with nephropathy.

Increased cellular Na+/H+ exchanger (NHE) activity has been demonstrated in type I diabetic patients with nephropathy. Such patients also have a previous history of poor glycemic control. The interaction between hyperglycemia and changes in NHE activity remains obscure. Therefore, we examined the effects of media containing 5 and 25 mmol/l glucose on the increased NHE activity and turnover number in Epstein-Barr virus-transformed lymphoblasts from patients with diabetic nephropathy compared with normoalbuminuric diabetic and nondiabetic control subjects. NHE activity was determined fluorometrically, and NHE isoform 1 (NHE-1) density was measured with specific polyclonal antibodies. In the presence of 5 mmol/l glucose, cells from patients with diabetic nephropathy exhibited higher NHE activity with intracellular pH clamped to 6.0 compared with diabetic and nondiabetic control subjects (P < 0.005 for both), due to a higher turnover number of NHE-1. Incubation in 25 mmol/l glucose for 48 h caused an increase in NHE activity (P < 0.001) and turnover number (P < 0.01) in the diabetic nephropathy group only, with no significant change in the diabetic or nondiabetic control groups. The rate constants for cell proliferation and NHE activity or turnover number were correlated when cells were cultured in 5 mmol/l glucose (r = 0.34 and 0.32, respectively; P < 0.05) or 25 mmol/l glucose media (r = 0.66 and 0.65, respectively; P < 0.001). We conclude that only lymphoblasts from the diabetic nephropathy group show an increase in NHE activity and turnover number under conditions mimicking hyperglycemia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Culture density and the activity, abundance and phosphorylation of the Na+/H+ exchanger isoform 1 in human fibroblasts.

The Na+/H+ exchanger isoform 1 (NHE-1) is a ubiquitous membrane glycoprotein present on most eukaryotic cells. Its activity, abundance and phosphorylation are regulated by a variety of growth factors and agonists. Although cell contact and inhibition of proliferation may reduce its activity, little is known of the influence of cell culture density on these measurements. The effect of culture density on the intracellular pH (pHi) and activity of NHE-1 of human MRC5 fibroblasts was thus investigated using fluorometry with BCECF, NHE-1 abundance with western blotting and NHE-1 phosphorylation using specific polyclonal antibodies. Proliferating cells in low density cultures had lower pHi and NHE-1 activity (per litre of cell water) than contact inhibited confluent cultures. Such cells in low density cultures were larger than those in very confluent cultures. NHE-1 activity per cell and NHE-1 protein abundance also showed an increasing trend with culture density. However, the turnover number of NHE-1 remained at around 3000 s-1 in low density and sub-confluent cultures, only decreasing in very confluent cultures. Moreover, NHE-1 phosphorylation declined with increased culture density. Cell culture density has profound effects on NHE-1 activity, abundance and turnover number, with associated changes in NHE-1 phosphorylation.

Activity and density of the Na+/H+ antiporter in normal and transformed human lymphocytes and fibroblasts.

The turnover number for the sodium-hydrogen exchanger isoform 1 (NHE-1) has been determined in human lymphocytes and MRC5 fibroblasts and in their virally transformed counterparts. Using fluorometric methods, we have determined the intracellular pH and Na+/H+ antiport activity of these cells. Intracellular pH was elevated in both lines of transformed cells. In contrast, Na+/H+ antiport activity was apparently unchanged in simian virus 40-transformed MRC5 fibroblasts (MRC5 SV1 TV1 28.9 +/- 5.2 mM/min compared with MRC5 fibroblasts 26.5 +/- 5.3 mM/min) but slightly increased in Epstein-Barr virus-transformed lymphoblasts (16.7 +/- 1.0 mM/min compared with lymphocytes 13.5 +/- 2.3 mM/min, P < 0.05). With the use of specific antisera to NHE-1, viral transformation was associated with a decreased number of NHE-1 molecules per cell in fibroblasts (from 441,504 +/- 53,428 to 64,745 +/- 7,151 sites/cell, P < 0.001) but an increased number in lymphocytes (from 14,066 +/- 3,100 to 22,474 +/- 4,050 sites/cell, P < 0.01). The NHE-1 density per cell yielded very similar turnover numbers for NHE-1 in the untransformed cells (lymphocytes, 3,161 +/- 833 cycles/s; MRC5 fibroblasts, 3,026 +/- 441 cycles/s), which were significantly elevated in the transformed cells (lymphoblasts, 8,471 +/- 1,177 cycles/s; MRC5 SV1 TV1, 10,521 +/- 2,299 cycles/s, P < 0.001 compared with untransformed cells). We conclude that viral transformation has different effects on Na+/H+ antiport activity and NHE-1 density per cell in different cell types, but the turnover number of NHE-1 is significantly increased after viral transformation, which correlates with the increased proliferation rate of these transformed cells.