Adenylyl cyclase 6 enhances NKCC2 expression and mediates vasopressin-induced phosphorylation of NKCC2 and NCC.

Arginine vasopressin (AVP) affects kidney function via vasopressin V2 receptors that are linked to activation of adenylyl cyclase (AC) and an increase in cyclic adenosine monophosphate formation. AVP/cyclic adenosine monophosphate enhance the phosphorylation of the Na-K-2Cl cotransporter (NKCC2) at serine residue 126 (pS126 NKCC2) and of the Na-Cl cotransporter (NCC) at threonine 58 (pT58 NCC). The isoform(s) of AC involved in these responses, however, were unknown. Phosphorylation of S126 NKCC2 and T58 NCC, induced by the V2 receptor agonist (1-desamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin) in wild-type mice, is lacking in knockout mice for AC isoform 6 (AC6). With regard to NKCC2 phosphorylation, the stimulatory effect of 1-desamino-8-D-AVP and the defect in AC6(-/-) mice seem to be restricted to the medullary portion of the thick ascending limb. AC6 is also a stimulator of total renal NKCC2 protein abundance in medullary and cortical thick ascending limb. Consequently, mice lacking AC6 have lower NKCC2 expression and a mild Bartter syndrome-like phenotype, including lower plasma concentrations of K+ and H+ and compensatory upregulation of NCC. Increased AC6-independent phosphorylation of NKCC2 at S126 might help to stabilize NKCC2 activity in the absence of AC6. Renal AC6 determines total NKCC2 expression and mediates vasopressin-induced NKCC2/NCC phosphorylation. These regulatory mechanisms, which are defective in AC knockout mice, are likely responsible for the observed mild Bartter syndrome.

Chronic noradrenaline increases renal expression of NHE-3, NBC-1, BSC-1 and aquaporin-2.

1. Because chronic activation of the renal sympathetic nervous system promotes sodium and water retention, it is conceivable that long-term exposure of the kidney to the sympathetic neurotransmitter noradrenaline upregulates the expression of key renal epithelial transport systems. 2. To test this hypothesis, we used immunoblotting of renal cortical and medullary tissue to investigate the abundance of major transport systems expressed along the renal tubule in response to long-term (15 days) infusions of noradrenaline (600 ng/min) in rats. 3. Mean arterial blood pressure and heart rate were significantly elevated in rats receiving chronic infusions of noradrenaline (128 +/- 10 mmHg and 492 +/- 16 b.p.m., respectively) compared with animals treated with saline only (89 +/- 3 mmHg and 376 +/- 14 b.p.m., respectively). 4. Chronic infusions of noradrenaline also increased the protein abundance of the cortical Na(+)/H(+) exchanger isoform 3 (NHE-3; 2.5-fold; P = 0.0142), the cortical sodium-bicarbonate cotransporter NBC-1 (2.5-fold; P = 0.0067), the bumetanide-sensitive sodium-potassium-chloride cotransporter BSC-1/NKCC2 in the inner stripe of outer medulla (threefold; P = 0.0020) and aquaporin-2 in the inner medulla (twofold; P = 0.0039). 5. In contrast, noradrenaline did not significantly affect expression of the thiazide-sensitive Na(+)-Cl(-) cotransporter in the cortex, Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase-alpha(1) in the cortex and inner stripe of the outer or inner medulla, the inwardly rectifying K(+) channel (ROMK-1) in the inner stripe of the outer medulla or aquaporin-1 in the cortex or inner medulla. Noradrenaline did significantly, but modestly (less than twofold), increase aquaporin-1 in the inner stripe of the outer medulla. 6. We conclude that noradrenaline-induced increases in the expression of NHE-3, NBC-1, BSC-1 and aquaporin-2 are likely to play an important role in the regulation of salt and water transport by noradrenaline in the kidney and may explain, at least in part, the altered renal sodium and water handling associated with overactivation of the sympathetic system.

Increased expression of sodium transporters in rats chronically inhibited of nitric oxide synthesis.

The present study was done to determine whether endogenous nitric oxide (NO) plays a role in the regulation of sodium transporters in the kidney. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 100 mg/L drinking water) for 4 weeks. Control rats were supplied with tap water without drugs. Expression of Na, K-ATPase, type 3 Na/H exchanger (NHE3), Na/K/2Cl cotransporter (BSC1), and thiazide-sensitive Na/Cl cotransporter (TSC) proteins was determined in the kidney by Western blot analysis. Catalytic activity of Na,K-ATPase was also determined. The treatment with L-NAME significantly and steadily increased the systemic blood pressure. Total and fractional excretion of urinary sodium decreased significantly, while creatinine clearance remained unaltered. Neither plasma renin activity nor aldosterone concentration was significantly altered. The alpha1 subunit expression and the catalytic activity of Na, K-ATPase were increased in the kidney. The expression of NHE3, BSC1 and TSC was also increased significantly. These results suggest that endogenously-derived NO exerts a tonic inhibitory effect on the expression of sodium transporters, including Na, K-ATPase, NHE3, BSC1, and TSC, in the kidney.