Hydrogen sulfide induces Ca2+ influx in the principal cells of rat cortical collecting ducts.

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) acts as a gas-signaling agent in various tissues. Although it has been reported that endogenous enzymes that generate H2S are expressed abundantly in the kidney, few reports examine cellular responses to H2S in renal tubular epithelial cells. In this study, we investigated the effects of NaHS, an H2S donor, and l-cysteine, a substrate for H2S production, on the principal cells of rat cortical collecting ducts (CCDs). NaHS increased the intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in the principal cells. The removal of extracellular Ca2+ largely attenuated the [Ca2+]i response. The TRPV4 channel blocker significantly inhibited the effect of NaHS. Extracellular administration of l-cysteine also elicited a rise in [Ca2+]i. Prior treatment of CCDs with AOAA, an inhibitor of H2S production enzyme, l-cysteine-induced [Ca2+]i response was significantly reduced. These results suggest that not only exogenous H2S but also endogenously produced H2S triggers the extracellular influx pathway of Ca2+ in the principal cells of rat CCDs.

Interleukin-1ß suppresses activity of an inwardly rectifying K+ channel in human renal proximal tubule cells.

We investigated the effect of interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) on activity of an inwardly rectifying K+ channel in cultured human proximal tubule cells (RPTECs), using the patch-clamp technique and Fura-2 Ca2+ imaging. IL-1ß (15 pg/ml) acutely reduced K+ channel activity in cell-attached patches. This effect was blocked by the IL-1 receptor antagonist (20 ng/ml), an inhibitor of phospholipase C, neomycin (300 µM), and an inhibitor of protein kinase C (PKC), GF109203X (500 nM). The Fura-2 Ca2+ imaging revealed that IL-1ß increased intracellular Ca2+ concentration even after removal of extracellular Ca2+, which was blocked by an inhibitor of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors, 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (2-APB, 1 µM). Moreover, IL-1ß suppressed channel activity in the presence of 2-APB without extracellular Ca2+. These results suggest that IL-1ß suppresses K+ channel activity in RPTECs through binding to its specific receptor and activation of the PKC pathway even though intracellular Ca2+ does not increase.

Chronic NGF treatment induces somatic hyperexcitability in cultured dorsal root ganglion neurons of the rat.

Adult rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons cultured in the presence of 100-ng/mL NGF were reported to show spontaneous action potentials in the cell-attached recording. In this study, underlying mechanisms were examined in the whole-cell and outside-out voltage clamp recording. In 75% neurons with on-cell firing, transient inward current spikes were repetitively recorded in the voltage clamp mode at -50 mV in the whole-cell configuration (named "Isp"). Isp with stable amplitudes occurred in an all-or-none fashion, and was abolished by TTX (< 100 nM), lidocaine (< 1 mM) and a reduction of extracellular Na(+) (154 to 100 mM) in an all-or-none fashion, suggesting that Isp reflects spontaneous dicharges occurring at the loosely voltage-clamped regions. Isp was also observed in the excised outside-out patches and the kinetics and the sensitivity to TTX and lidocaine resembled those in the whole-cell. Spontaneous action potentials were also recorded in the current clamp mode. Small subthreshold spikes often preceded the action potentials. When the localized discharge affected a whole-somatic membrane potential to overcome a threshold, the action potential generated. These results indicate that the triggering sources of the action potential exist in the somatic membrane itself in NGF-treated DRG neurons.

Effects of cytokines on potassium channels in renal tubular epithelia.

Renal tubular potassium (K(+)) channels play important roles in the formation of cell-negative potential, K(+) recycling, K(+) secretion, and cell volume regulation. In addition to these physiological roles, it was reported that changes in the activity of renal tubular K(+) channels were involved in exacerbation of renal cell injury during ischemia and endotoxemia. Because ischemia and endotoxemia stimulate production of cytokines in immune cells and renal tubular cells, it is possible that cytokines would affect K(+) channel activity. Although the regulatory mechanisms of renal tubular K(+) channels have extensively been studied, little information is available about the effects of cytokines on these K(+) channels. The first report was that tumor necrosis factor acutely stimulated the single channel activity of the 70 pS K(+) channel in the rat thick ascending limb through activation of tyrosine phosphatase. Recently, it was also reported that interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) modulated the activity of the 40 pS K(+) channel in cultured human proximal tubule cells. IFN-γ exhibited a delayed suppression and an acute stimulation of K(+) channel activity, whereas IL-1ß acutely suppressed the channel activity. Furthermore, these cytokines suppressed gene expression of the renal outer medullary potassium channel. The renal tubular K(+) channels are functionally coupled to the coexisting transporters. Therefore, the effects of cytokines on renal tubular transporter activity should also be taken into account, when interpreting their effects on K(+) channel activity.

Interaction between Calcineurin and Ca/Calmodulin Kinase-II in Modulating Cellular Functions.

Roles of calcineurin (CaN), a Ca(2+)/calmodulin- (CaM-) dependent protein phosphatase, and Ca(2+)/CaM-dependent protein kinase-II (CaMKII) in modulating K(+) channel activity and the intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) have been investigated in renal tubule epithelial cells. The channel current through the cell membrane was recorded with the patch-clamp technique, and [Ca(2+)](i) was monitored using fura-2 imaging. We found that a CaN-inhibitor, cyclosporin A (CyA), lowered the K(+) channel activity and elevated [Ca(2+)](i), suggesting that CyA closes K(+) channels and opens Ca(2+)-release channels of the cytosolic Ca(2+)-store. Moreover, both of these responses were blocked by KN-62, an inhibitor of CaMKII. It is suggested that the CyA-mediated response results from the activation of CaMKII. Indeed, Western blot analysis revealed that CyA increased phospho-CaMKII, an active form of CaMKII. These findings suggest that CaN-dependent dephosphorylation inhibits CaMKII-mediated phosphorylation, and the inhibition of CaN increases phospho-CaMKII, which results in the stimulation of CaMKII-dependent cellular actions.

A nicardipine-sensitive Ca2+ entry contributes to the hypotonicity-induced increase in [Ca2+]i of principal cells in rat cortical collecting duct.

We examined the mechanisms involved in the [Ca(2+)](i) response to the extracellular hypotonicity in the principal cells of freshly isolated rat cortical collecting duct (CCD), using Fura-2/AM fluorescence imaging. Reduction of extracellular osmolality from 305 (control) to 195 mosmol/kgH(2)O (hypotonic) evoked transient increase in [Ca(2+)](i) of principal cells of rat CCDs. The [Ca(2+)](i) increase was markedly attenuated by the removal of extracellular Ca(2+)(.) The application of a P(2) purinoceptor antagonist, suramin failed to inhibit the hypotonicity-induced [Ca(2+)](i) increase. The [Ca(2+)](i) increase in response to extracellular hypotonicity was not influenced by application of Gd(3+) and ruthenium red. On the other hand, a voltage-gated Ca(2+) channel inhibitor, nicardipine, significantly reduced the peak amplitude of [Ca(2+)](i) increase in the principal cells. In order to assess Ca(2+) entry during the hypotonic stimulation, we measured the quenching of Fura-2 fluorescence intensity by Mn(2+). The hypotonic stimulation enhanced quenching of Fura-2 fluorescence by Mn(2+), indicating that a Ca(2+)-permeable pathway was activated by the hypotonicity. The hypotonicity-mediated enhancement of Mn(2+) quenching was significantly inhibited by nicardipine. These results strongly suggested that a nicardipine-sensitive Ca(2+) entry pathway would contribute to the mechanisms underlying the hypotonicity-induced [Ca(2+)](i) elevation of principal cells in rat CCD.

Role of calcineurin-mediated dephosphorylation in modulation of an inwardly rectifying K+ channel in human proximal tubule cells.

Activity of an inwardly rectifying K(+) channel with inward conductance of about 40 pS in cultured human renal proximal tubule epithelial cells (RPTECs) is regulated at least in part by protein phosphorylation and dephosphorylation. In this study, we examined involvement of calcineurin (CaN), a Ca(2+)/calmodulin (CaM)-dependent phosphatase, in modulating K(+) channel activity. In cell-attached mode of the patch-clamp technique, application of a CaN inhibitor, cyclosporin A (CsA, 5 microM) or FK520 (5 microM), significantly suppressed channel activity. Intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)]( i )) estimated by fura-2 imaging was elevated by these inhibitors. Since inhibition of CaN attenuates some dephosphorylation with increase in [Ca(2+)]( i ), we speculated that inhibiting CaN enhances Ca(2+)-dependent phosphorylation, which might result in channel suppression. To verify this hypothesis, we examined effects of inhibitors of PKC and Ca(2+)/CaM-dependent protein kinase-II (CaMKII) on CsA-induced channel suppression. Although the PKC inhibitor GF109203X (500 nM) did not influence the CsA-induced channel suppression, the CaMKII inhibitor KN62 (20 microM) prevented channel suppression, suggesting that the channel suppression resulted from CaMKII-dependent processes. Indeed, Western blot analysis showed that CsA increased phospho-CaMKII (Thr286), an activated CaMKII in inside-out patches, application of CaM (0.6 microM) and CaMKII (0.15 U/ml) to the bath at 10(-6) M Ca(2+) significantly suppressed channel activity, which was reactivated by subsequent application of CaN (800 U/ml). These results suggest that CaN plays an important role in supporting K(+) channel activity in RPTECs by preventing CaMKII-dependent phosphorylation.

Delayed and acute effects of interferon-gamma on activity of an inwardly rectifying K+ channel in cultured human proximal tubule cells.

The activity of an inwardly rectifying K(+) channel in cultured human renal proximal tubule cells (RPTECs) is stimulated and inhibited by nitric oxide (NO) at low and high concentrations, respectively. In this study, we investigated the effects of IFN-gamma, one of the cytokines which affect the expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS), on intracellular NO and channel activity of RPTECs, using RT-PCR, NO imaging, and the cell-attached mode of the patch-clamp technique. Prolonged incubation (24 h) of cells with IFN-gamma (20 ng/ml) enhanced iNOS mRNA expression and NO production. In these cells, a NOS inhibitor, N(omega)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME; 100 microM), elevated channel activity, suggesting that NO production was so high as to suppress the channel. This indicated that IFN-gamma would chronically suppress channel activity by enhancing NO production. Acute effects of IFN-gamma was also examined in control cells. Simple addition of IFN-gamma (20 ng/ml) to the bath acutely stimulated channel activity, which was abolished by inhibitors of IFN-gamma receptor-associated Janus-activated kinase [P6 (1 microM) and AG490 (10 microM)]. However, l-NAME did not block the acute effect of IFN-gamma. Indeed, IFN-gamma did not acutely affect NO production. Moreover, the acute effect was not blocked by inhibition of PKA, PKG, and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K). We conclude that IFN-gamma exerted a delayed suppressive effect on K(+) channel activity by enhancing iNOS expression and an acute stimulatory effect, which was independent of either NO pathways or phosphorylation processes mediated by PKA, PKG, and PI3K in RPTECs.

Comparison of effects of PKA catalytic subunit on I(h) and calcium channel currents in rat dorsal root ganglion cells.

We investigated whether PKA-induced phosphorylation was involved in regulation of hyperpolarization-activated current (I(h)) in rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) cells. We examined the effect of the catalytic subunit of PKA (PKAc) on I(h) and confirmed an effect of PKAc on Ca(2+) channel currents carried by Ba(2+) (I(Ba)) in identical neurons as a positive control of PKA activity. After the start of recording, amplitudes of I(Ba) gradually decreased (rundown). An intracellular application of ATP reduced the rundown of I(Ba) and induced a depolarizing shift of I(h) activation. The former was partially reversed by PKI but the latter was not affected. An intracellular application of PKAc also prevented the rundown of I(Ba) and this effect was potentiated by okadaic acid (OA). The application of PKAc and OA in combination did not change the electrophysiological properties of I(h) although a potentiating effect on I(Ba) was observed in the same neurons. The application of 2-mM ATP in addition to PKAc and OA did not result in an additional potentiation of I(Ba), but shifted the activation curve of I(h) positively. These results suggested that PKA-induced phosphorylation was not involved in the modulatory mechanisms of I(h) in rat DRG neurons.

Involvement of endogenous nitric oxide in the regulation of K+ channel activity in cultured human proximal tubule cells.

Nitric oxide (NO) modulates the activity of an inwardly rectifying K(+) channel in cultured human proximal tubule cells. In this study, we investigated which NO synthase (NOS) isoform(s) was involved in the endogenous production of NO and hence the regulation of channel activity. The patch-clamp experiments using the cell-attached mode showed that a nonselective NOS inhibitor, N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; 100 microM), suppressed channel activity, whereas a NOS substrate, L-arginine (500 microM), stimulated it. A neuronal NOS (nNOS)/inducible NOS (iNOS)-selective inhibitor, 1-(alpha,alpha,alpha-trifluoro-o-tolyl)-imidazole (TRIM; 100 microM), suppressed channel activity to the same extent as L-NAME. TRIM also blocked the stimulatory effect of L-arginine. In contrast, an NO donor, sodium nitroprusside (10 microM) or 8-bromoguanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (100 microM) stimulated channel activity even in the presence of TRIM. RT-PCR revealed that iNOS mRNA alone was expressed in most of the cultures, i.e., 34 out of 40. In the other 6 cases, endothelial NOS (eNOS) and iNOS mRNA were simultaneously expressed. This finding was confirmed at the protein level by Western blotting. Indeed, in the patch-clamp experiments TRIM sometimes failed to suppress the channel activity, but the following addition of L-NAME suppressed it. However, since the suppressive effect of TRIM was usually similar to that of L-NAME, the involvement of eNOS in K(+) channel regulation would be relatively low. These results suggest that iNOS plays a pivotal role in the endogenous production of NO under the basal condition, which is involved in the activity of the inwardly rectifying K(+) channel in cultured human proximal tubule cells.

Nerve growth factor-induced hyperexcitability of rat sensory neuron in culture.

Abnormal spontaneous firing of primary sensory neurons is considered to be a cause of neuropathic pain. However, pathogenic mechanisms of hyperexcitable sensory neurons in neuropathic model animals are unclear. We examined effects of chronic treatment of nerve growth factor (NGF), one of candidate mediators for the pathogenesis, on excitability of sensory neurons by voltage-clamped recording in a cell-attached configuration. From rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons cultured without NGF, only stable holding currents without spontaneous firing activity were recorded. On the other hand, more than 20% neurons cultured in the presence of NGF for more than 3 days showed spontaneous current spikes at frequencies between 0.1 and 5 Hz. Each spikes had an initial inward phase followed by the outward phase, resulted from spontaneous transient depolarization followed by transient hyperpolarization. These spontaneous spikes were abolished by tetrodotoxin, lidocaine and reduction of extracellular concentration of Na+ from 154 mM to 100 mM, in all-or-none fashion, suggesting that spontaneous current spikes reflected spontaneous action potentials. From these results, it became evident that DRG neurons of adult rats had a nature to respond to NGF and obtained the abnormal hyperexcitability to fire spontaneously.

Effect of intracellular dialysis of ATP on the hyperpolarization-activated cation current in rat dorsal root ganglion neurons.

The mechanism of the effect of intracellular ATP on the hyperpolarization-activated non-selective cation current (Ih) in rat dorsal root ganglion neurons was investigated using a whole cell voltage-clamp technique. Under voltage-clamp conditions, Ih was activated by hyperpolarizing pulses raised to a voltage of between -70 and -130 mV. The activation curve of Ih in rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons shifted by about 15 mV in the positive direction with an intracellular solution containing 1 mM cAMP. When ATP (2 mM) was applied intracellularly, the half-maximal activation voltage (Vhalf) of Ih shifted from -97.4 +/- 1.9 to -86.8 +/- 1.6 mV, resulting in an increase in the current amplitude of Ih by the pulse to between -80 and -90 mV. In the presence of an adenylate cyclase inhibitor, SQ-22536 (100 microM), the intracellular dialysis of ATP also produced a shift in the voltage-dependence of Ih in rat DRG neurons, indicating that the effect of ATP was not caused by cAMP converted by adenylate cyclase. Intracellular dialysis of a nonhydrolysable ATP analog, AMP-PNP or ATP-gamma-S, also produced a positive shift in the voltage-dependence of Ih activation, suggesting that the effect of ATP results from its direct action on the channel protein. These results indicate that cytosolic ATP directly regulates the voltage dependence of Ih activation as an intracellular modulating factor.