L-arginine effects on Na+ transport in M-1 mouse cortical collecting duct cells--a cationic amino acid absorbing epithelium.

The effect of L-arginine on transepithelial ion transport was examined in cultured M-1 mouse renal cortical collecting duct (CCD) cells using continuous short circuit current (Isc) measurements in HCO3-/CO2 buffered solution. Steady state Isc averaged 73.8 +/- 3.2 microA/cm2 (n = 126) and was reduced by 94 +/- 0.6% (n = 16) by the apical addition of 100 microM amiloride. This confirms that the predominant electrogenic ion transport in M-1 cells is Na+ absorption via the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC). Experiments using the cationic amino acid L-lysine (radiolabeled) as a stable arginine analogue show that the combined activity of an apical system y+ and a basal amino acid transport system y+L are responsible for most cationic amino acid transport across M-1 cells. Together they generate net absorptive cationic amino acid flux. Application of L-arginine (10 mM) either apically or basolaterally induced a transient peak increase in Isc averaging 36.6 +/- 5.4 microA/cm2 (n = 19) and 32.0 +/- 7.2 microA/cm2 (n = 8), respectively. The response was preserved in the absence of bath Cl- (n = 4), but was abolished either in the absence of apical Na+ (n = 4) or by apical addition of 100 microM amiloride (n = 6). L-lysine, which cannot serve as a precursor of NO, caused a response similar to that of L-arginine (n = 4); neither L-NMMA (100 microM; n = 3) nor L-NAME (1 mM; n = 4) (both NO-synthase inhibitors) affected the Isc response to L-arginine. The effects of arginine or lysine were replicated by alkalinization that mimicked the transient alkalinization of the bath solution upon addition of these amino acids. We conclude that in M-1 cells L-arginine stimulates Na+ absorption via a pH-dependent, but NO-independent mechanism. The observed net cationic amino acid absorption will counteract passive cationic amino acid leak into the CCD in the presence of electrogenic Na+ transport, consistent with reports of stimulated expression of Na+ and cationic amino acid transporters by aldosterone.

ATP stimulates Cl- secretion and reduces amiloride-sensitive Na+ absorption in M-1 mouse cortical collecting duct cells.

1. Using equivalent short circuit current (ISC) measurements we examined the effect of extracellular ATP on transepithelial ion transport in M-1 mouse cortical collecting duct cells. Apical addition of ATP produced a rapid transient peak increase in ISC. This was followed by a fall below basal ISC due to a reduction in the amiloride-sensitive ISC component. 2. The ATP-induced ISC increase was preserved in the presence of apical amiloride while it was reduced in the absence of extracellular Cl- and in the presence of the apical Cl- channel blockers diphenylamine-2-carboxylic acid (DPC, 1 mM), DIDS (300 microM) and niflumic acid (100 microM). 3. The stimulatory effect of apical ATP on ISC was concentration dependent with an EC50 of about 0.6 microM. Basolateral ATP elicited a similar ISC response. Experiments using the ATP scavenger hexokinase demonstrated that the ATP effects were elicited via separate apical and basolateral receptors. 4. ATP and UTP applied to either the apical or the basolateral bath equi-potently stimulated ISC while 'purified' ADP and UDP had no effect consistent with P2Y2 purinoceptors, the expression of which was confirmed using RT-PCR. 5. Intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) measurements using fura-2 demonstrated that ATP and UTP elicited a rise in [Ca2+]i with EC50 values of 1.1 and 0.6 microM, respectively. The shape and time course of the calcium response were similar to those of the ISC response. The peak ISC response was preserved in the nominal absence of extracellular calcium but was significantly reduced in cells pre-incubated with the calcium chelator BAPTA AM. 6. We conclude that in M-1 cells extracellular ATP reduces amiloride-sensitive Na+ absorption and stimulates Cl- secretion via calcium-activated Cl- channels through activation of P2Y2 purinoreceptors located in the apical and basolateral membrane.

Basolateral K+ channel involvement in forskolin-activated chloride secretion in human colon.

1. In this study we investigated the role of basolateral potassium transport in maintaining cAMP-activated chloride secretion in human colonic epithelium. 2. Ion transport was quantified in isolated human colonic epithelium using the short-circuit current technique. Basolateral potassium transport was studied using nystatin permeabilization. Intracellular calcium measurements were obtained from isolated human colonic crypts using fura-2 spectrofluorescence imaging. 3. In intact isolated colonic strips, forskolin and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) activated an inward transmembrane current (ISC) consistent with anion secretion (for forskolin DeltaISC = 63.8+/-6.2 microA cm(-2), n = 6; for PGE2 DeltaISC = 34.3+/-5.2 microA cm(-2), n = 6). This current was inhibited in chloride-free Krebs solution or by inhibiting basolateral chloride uptake with bumetanide and 4,4'-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid DIDS). 4. The forskolin- and PGE2-induced chloride secretion was inhibited by basolateral exposure to barium (5 mM), tetrapentylammonium (10 microM) and tetraethylammonium (10 mM). 5. The transepithelial current produced under an apical to serosal K+ gradient in nystatin-perforated colon is generated at the basolateral membrane by K+ transport. Forskolin failed to activate this current under conditions of high or low calcium and failed to increase the levels of intracellular calcium in isolated crypts 6. In conclusion, we propose that potassium recycling through basolateral K+ channels is essential for cAMP-activated chloride secretion.

Rapid responses to aldosterone in human distal colon.

Aldosterone at normal physiological levels induces rapid increases in intracellular calcium and pH in human distal colon. The end target of these rapid signaling responses are basolateral K+ channels. Using spectrofluorescence microscopy and Ussing chamber techniques, we have shown that aldosterone activates basolateral Na/H exchange via a protein kinase C and calcium-dependent signaling pathway. The resultant intracellular alkalinization up-regulates an adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-dependent K+ channel (K(ATP)) and inhibits a Ca2+ -dependent K+ channel (K(Ca)). In Ussing chamber experiments, we have shown that the K(ATP) channel is required to drive sodium absorption, whereas the K(Ca) channel is necessary for both cyclic adenosine monophosphate and calcium-dependent chloride secretion. The rapid effects of aldosterone on intracellular calcium, pH, protein kinase C and K(ATP), K(Ca) channels are insensitive to cycloheximide, actinomycin D, and spironalactone, indicating a nongenomic mechanism of action. We propose that the physiological role for the rapid nongenomic effect of aldosterone is to prime pluripotential epithelia for absorption by simultaneously up-regulating K(ATP) channels to drive absorption through surface cells and down-regulating the secretory capacity by inhibiting K(Ca) channels involved in secretion through crypt cells.