Amiloride lowers plasma TNF and interleukin-6 but not interleukin-17A in patients with hypertension and type 2 diabetes.

Interleukin (IL)-17A contributes to hypertension in preclinical models. T helper 17 and dendritic cells are activated by NaCl, which could involve the epithelial Na+ channel (ENaC). We hypothesized that the ENaC blocker amiloride reduces plasma IL-17A and related cytokines in patients with hypertension. Concentrations of IL-17A, IFN-γ, TNF, IL-6, IL-1ß, and IL-10 were determined by immunoassays in plasma from two patient cohorts before and after amiloride treatment: 1) patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and treatment-resistant hypertension (n = 69, amiloride 5-10 mg/day for 8 wk) and 2) patients with hypertension and type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) (n = 29) on standardized salt intake (amiloride 20-40 mg/day, 2 days). Plasma and tissue from ANG II-hypertensive mice with T1DM treated with amiloride (2 mg/kg/day, 4 days) were analyzed. The effect of amiloride and benzamil on macrophage cytokines was determined in vitro. Plasma cytokines showed higher concentrations (IL-17A ∼40-fold) in patients with T2DM compared with T1DM. In patients with T2DM, amiloride had no effect on IL-17A but lowered TNF and IL-6. In patients with T1DM, amiloride had no effect on IL-17A but increased TNF. In both cohorts, blood pressure decline and plasma K+ increase did not relate to plasma cytokine changes. In mice, amiloride exerted no effect on IL-17A in the plasma, kidney, aorta, or left cardiac ventricle but increased TNF in cardiac and kidney tissues. In lipopolysaccharide-stimulated human THP-1 macrophages, amiloride and benzamil (from 1 nmol/L) decreased TNF, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-1ß. In conclusion, inhibition of ENaC by amiloride reduces proinflammatory cytokines TNF and IL-6 but not IL-17A in patients with T2DM, potentially by a direct action on macrophages.NEW & NOTEWORTHY ENaC activity may contribute to macrophage-derived cytokine release, since amiloride exerts anti-inflammatory effects by suppression of TNF and IL-6 cytokines in patients with resistant hypertension and type 2 diabetes and in THP-1-derived macrophages in vitro.

Preclinical evaluation of the epithelial sodium channel inhibitor AZD5634 and implications on human translation.

Airway dehydration causes mucus stasis and bacterial overgrowth in cystic fibrosis (CF), resulting in recurrent respiratory infections and exacerbations. Strategies to rehydrate airway mucus including inhibition of the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) have the potential to improve mucosal defense by enhancing mucociliary clearance (MCC) and reducing the risk of progressive decline in lung function. In the current work, we evaluated the effects of AZD5634, an ENaC inhibitor that shows extended lung retention and safety profile as compared with previously evaluated candidate drugs, in healthy and CF preclinical model systems. We found that AZD5634 elicited a potent inhibition of amiloride-sensitive current in non-CF airway cells and airway cells derived from F508del-homozygous individuals with CF that effectively increased airway surface liquid volume and improved mucociliary transport (MCT) rate. AZD5634 also demonstrated efficacious inhibition of ENaC in sheep bronchial epithelial cells, translating to dose-dependent improvement of mucus clearance in healthy sheep in vivo. Conversely, nebulization of AZD5634 did not notably improve airway hydration or MCT in CF rats that exhibit an MCC defect, consistent with findings from a first single-dose evaluation of AZD5634 on MCC in people with CF. Overall, these findings suggest that CF animal models demonstrating impaired mucus clearance translatable to the human situation may help to successfully predict and promote the successful translation of ENaC-directed therapies to the clinic.

Sustained inhibition of ENaC in CF: Potential RNA-based therapies for mutation-agnostic treatment.

Disruption of the equilibrium between ion secretion and absorption processes by the airway epithelium is central to many muco-obstructive lung diseases including cystic fibrosis (CF). Besides correction of defective folding and function of CFTR, inhibition of amiloride-sensitive epithelia sodium channels (ENaC) has emerged as a bona fide therapeutic strategy to improve mucociliary clearance in patients with CF. The short half-life of amiloride-based ENaC blockers and hyperosmotic therapies have led to the development of novel RNA-based interventions for targeted and sustained reduction of ENaC expression and function in preclinical models of CF. This review summarizes the recent advances in RNA therapeutics targeting ENaC for mutation-agnostic treatment of CF.

Salt-Sensitive Hypertension of the Renal Tubular Cell-Specific NFAT5 (Nuclear Factor of Activated T-Cells 5) Knockout Mice.

[Figure: see text].

cAMP triggers Na+ absorption by distal airway surface epithelium in cystic fibrosis swine.

A controversial hypothesis pertaining to cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease is that the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) channel fails to inhibit the epithelial Na+ channel (ENaC), yielding increased Na+ reabsorption and airway dehydration. We use a non-invasive self-referencing Na+-selective microelectrode technique to measure Na+ transport across individual folds of distal airway surface epithelium preparations from CFTR-/- (CF) and wild-type (WT) swine. We show that, under unstimulated control conditions, WT and CF epithelia exhibit similar, low rates of Na+ transport that are unaffected by the ENaC blocker amiloride. However, in the presence of the cyclic AMP (cAMP)-elevating agents forskolin+IBMX (isobutylmethylxanthine), folds of WT tissues secrete large amounts of Na+, while CFTR-/- tissues absorb small, but potentially important, amounts of Na+. In cAMP-stimulated conditions, amiloride inhibits Na+ absorption in CFTR-/- tissues but does not affect secretion in WT tissues. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that ENaC-mediated Na+ absorption may contribute to dehydration of CF distal airways.

Triamterene induces autophagic degradation of lysosome by exacerbating lysosomal integrity.

The maintenance of lysosomal integrity is essential for lysosome function and cell fate. Damaged lysosomes are degraded by lysosomal autophagy, lysophagy. The mechanism underlying lysophagy remains largely unknown; this study aimed to contribute to the understanding of this topic. A cell-based screening system was used to identify novel lysophagy modulators. Triamterene (6-phenylpteridine-2,4,7-triamine) was identified as one of the most potent lysophagy inducers from the screening process. We found that triamterene causes lysosomal rupture without affecting other cellular organelles and increases autophagy flux in HepG2 cells. Damaged lysosomes in triamterene-treated cells were removed by autophagy-mediated pathway, which was inhibited by depletion of the autophagy regulator, ATG5 or SQSTM1. In addition, treatment of triamterene decreased the integrity of lysosome and cell viability, which were rescued by removing the triamterene treatment in HepG2 cells. Hence, our data suggest that triamterene is a novel lysophagy inducer through the disruption of lysosomal integrity.

Contribution of Syndecans to the Cellular Entry of SARS-CoV-2.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a novel emerging pathogen causing an unprecedented pandemic in 21st century medicine. Due to the significant health and economic burden of the current SARS-CoV-2 outbreak, there is a huge unmet medical need for novel interventions effectively blocking SARS-CoV-2 infection. Unknown details of SARS-CoV-2 cellular biology hamper the development of potent and highly specific SARS-CoV-2 therapeutics. Angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) has been reported to be the primary receptor for SARS-CoV-2 cellular entry. However, emerging scientific evidence suggests the involvement of additional membrane proteins, such as heparan sulfate proteoglycans, in SARS-CoV-2 internalization. Here, we report that syndecans, the evolutionarily conserved family of transmembrane proteoglycans, facilitate the cellular entry of SARS-CoV-2. Among syndecans, the lung abundant syndecan-4 was the most efficient in mediating SARS-CoV-2 uptake. The S1 subunit of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein plays a dominant role in the virus's interactions with syndecans. Besides the polyanionic heparan sulfate chains, other parts of the syndecan ectodomain, such as the cell-binding domain, also contribute to the interaction with SARS-CoV-2. During virus internalization, syndecans colocalize with ACE2, suggesting a jointly shared internalization pathway. Both ACE2 and syndecan inhibitors exhibited significant efficacy in reducing the cellular entry of SARS-CoV-2, thus supporting the complex nature of internalization. Data obtained on syndecan specific in vitro assays present syndecans as novel cellular targets of SARS-CoV-2 and offer molecularly precise yet simple strategies to overcome the complex nature of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Ethyl isopropyl amiloride decreases oxidative phosphorylation and increases mitochondrial fusion in clonal untransformed and cancer cells.

Many cancer cells, regardless of their tissue origin or genetic landscape, have increased expression or activity of the plasma membrane Na-H exchanger NHE1 and a higher intracellular pH (pHi) compared with untransformed cells. A current perspective that remains to be validated is that increased NHE1 activity and pHi enable a Warburg-like metabolic reprogramming of increased glycolysis and decreased mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. We tested this perspective and find it is not accurate for clonal pancreatic and breast cancer cells. Using the pharmacological reagent ethyl isopropyl amiloride (EIPA) to inhibit NHE1 activity and decrease pHi, we observe no change in glycolysis, as indicated by secreted lactate and intracellular pyruvate, despite confirming increased activity of the glycolytic enzyme phosphofructokinase-1 at higher pH. Also, in contrast to predictions, we find a significant decrease in oxidative phosphorylation with EIPA, as indicated by oxygen consumption rate (OCR). Decreased OCR with EIPA is not associated with changes in pathways that fuel oxidative phosphorylation or with mitochondrial membrane potential but occurs with a change in mitochondrial dynamics that includes a significant increase in elongated mitochondrial networks, suggesting increased fusion. These findings conflict with current paradigms on increased pHi inhibiting oxidative phosphorylation and increased oxidative phosphorylation being associated with mitochondrial fusion. Moreover, these findings raise questions on the suggested use of EIPA-like compounds to limit metabolic reprogramming in cancer cells.

Vascular control of kidney epithelial transporters.

A major pathway in hypertension pathogenesis involves direct activation of ANG II type 1 (AT1) receptors in the kidney, stimulating Na+ reabsorption. AT1 receptors in tubular epithelia control expression and stimulation of Na+ transporters and channels. Recently, we found reduced blood pressure and enhanced natriuresis in mice with cell-specific deletion of AT1 receptors in smooth muscle (SMKO mice). Although impaired vasoconstriction and preserved renal blood flow might contribute to exaggerated urinary Na+ excretion in SMKO mice, we considered whether alterations in Na+ transporter expression might also play a role; therefore, we carried out proteomic analysis of key Na+ transporters and associated proteins. Here, we show that levels of Na+-K+-2Cl- cotransporter isoform 2 (NKCC2) and Na+/H+ exchanger isoform 3 (NHE3) are reduced at baseline in SMKO mice, accompanied by attenuated natriuretic and diuretic responses to furosemide. During ANG II hypertension, we found widespread remodeling of transporter expression in wild-type mice with significant increases in the levels of total NaCl cotransporter, phosphorylated NaCl cotransporter (Ser71), and phosphorylated NKCC2, along with the cleaved, activated forms of the α- and γ-epithelial Na+ channel. However, the increases in α- and γ-epithelial Na+ channel with ANG II were substantially attenuated in SMKO mice. This was accompanied by a reduced natriuretic response to amiloride. Thus, enhanced urinary Na+ excretion observed after cell-specific deletion of AT1 receptors from smooth muscle cells is associated with altered Na+ transporter abundance across epithelia in multiple nephron segments. These findings suggest a system of vascular-epithelial in the kidney, modulating the expression of Na+ transporters and contributing to the regulation of pressure natriuresis.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The use of drugs to block the renin-angiotensin system to reduce blood pressure is common. However, the precise mechanism for how these medications control blood pressure is incompletely understood. Here, we show that mice lacking angiotensin receptors specifically in smooth muscle cells lead to alternation in tubular transporter amount and function. Thus, demonstrating the importance of vascular-tubular cross talk in the control of blood pressure.

New generation ENaC inhibitors detach cystic fibrosis airway mucus bundles via sodium/hydrogen exchanger inhibition.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a recessive inherited disease caused by mutations affecting anion transport by the epithelial ion channel cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). The disease is characterized by mucus accumulation in the airways and intestine, but the major cause of mortality in CF is airway mucus accumulation, leading to bacterial colonization, inflammation and respiratory failure. Several drug targets are under evaluation to alleviate airway mucus obstruction in CF and one of these targets is the epithelial sodium channel ENaC. To explore effects of ENaC inhibitors on mucus properties, we used two model systems to investigate mucus characteristics, mucus attachment in mouse ileum and mucus bundle transport in piglet airways. We quantified mucus attachment in explants from CFTR null (CF) mice and tracheobronchial explants from newborn CFTR null (CF) piglets to evaluate effects of ENaC or sodium/hydrogen exchanger (NHE) inhibitors on mucus attachment. ENaC inhibitors detached mucus in the CF mouse ileum, although the ileum lacks ENaC expression. This effect was mimicked by two NHE inhibitors. Airway mucus bundles were immobile in untreated newborn CF piglets but were detached by the therapeutic drug candidate AZD5634 (patent WO, 2015140527). These results suggest that the ENaC inhibitor AZD5634 causes detachment of CF mucus in the ileum and airway via NHE inhibition and that drug design should focus on NHE instead of ENaC inhibition.

Early Stimulation of TREK Channel Transcription and Activity Induced by Oxaliplatin-Dependent Cytosolic Acidification.

Oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy is characterized by an acute hyperexcitability syndrome triggered/exacerbated by cold. The mechanisms underlying oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy are unclear, but the alteration of ion channel expression and activity plays a well-recognized central role. Recently, we found that oxaliplatin leads to cytosolic acidification in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. Here, we investigated the early impact of oxaliplatin on the proton-sensitive TREK potassium channels. Following a 6-h oxaliplatin treatment, both channels underwent a transcription upregulation that returned to control levels after 42 h. The overexpression of TREK channels was also observed after in vivo treatment in DRG cells from mice exposed to acute treatment with oxaliplatin. Moreover, both intracellular pH and TREK channel transcription were similarly regulated after incubation with amiloride, an inhibitor of the Na+/H+ exchanger. In addition, we studied the role of oxaliplatin-induced acidification on channel behavior, and, as expected, we observed a robust positive modulation of TREK channel activity. Finally, we focused on the impact of this complex modulation on capsaicin-evoked neuronal activity finding a transient decrease in the average firing rate following 6 h of oxaliplatin treatment. In conclusion, the early activation of TREK genes may represent a mechanism of protection against the oxaliplatin-related perturbation of neuronal excitability.

Is amiloride a promising cardiovascular medication to persist in the COVID-19 crisis?

In the ongoing coronavirus diseases-2019 (COVID-19) crisis that caused immense suffering and deaths, the choice of therapy for the prevention and life-saving conditions must be based on sound scientific evidence. Uncertainty and apprehension are exacerbated in people using angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors to control their comorbidities such as hypertension and diabetes. These drugs are reported to result in unfavorable outcome as they tend to increase the levels of ACE2 which mediates the entry of SARS-CoV-2. Amiloride, a prototypic inhibitor of epithelial sodium channels (ENaC) can be an ideal candidate for COVID-19 patients, given its ACE reducing and cytosolic pH increasing effects. Moreover, its potassium-sparing and anti-epileptic activities make it a promising alternative or a combinatorial agent.

Analysis of changes in sodium and chloride ion transport in the skin.

The measurement of electric potential and resistance reflect the transport of sodium and chloride ions which take place in keratinocytes and is associated with skin response to stimuli arising from external and internal environment. The aim of the study was to assess changes in electrical resistance and the transport of chloride and sodium ions, under iso-osmotic conditions and following the use of inhibitors affecting these ions' transport, namely amiloride (A) and bumetanide (B). The experiment was performed on 104 fragments of rabbit skin, divided into three groups: control (n = 35), A-inhibited sodium transport (n = 33) and B-inhibited chloride transport (n = 36). Measurement of electrical resistance (R) and electrical potential (PD) confirmed tissue viability during the experiment, no statistically significant differences in relation to control conditions were noted. The minimal and maximal PD measured during stimulation confirmed the repeatability of the recorded reactions to the mechanical and mechanical-chemical stimulus for all examined groups. Measurement of PD during stimulation showed differences in the transport of sodium and chloride ions in each of the analyzed groups relative to the control. The statistical analysis of the PD measured in stationary conditions and during mechanical and/or mechanical-chemical stimulation proved that changes in sodium and chloride ion transport constitute the physiological response of keratinocytes to changes in environmental conditions for all applied experimental conditions. Assessment of transdermal ion transport changes may be a useful tool for assessing the skin condition with tendency to pain hyperactivity and hypersensitivity to xenobiotics.

Transport properties in CFTR-/- knockout piglets suggest normal airway surface liquid pH and enhanced amiloride-sensitive Na+ absorption.

Previous analysis of CFTR-knockout (CFTR-/-) in piglets has provided important insights into the pathology of cystic fibrosis. However, controversies exist as to the true contribution of CFTR to the pH balance in airways and intestine. We therefore compared ion transport properties in newborn wild-type (CFTR+/+) and CFTR-knockout (CFTR-/- piglets). Tracheas of CFTR-/- piglets demonstrated typical cartilage malformations and muscle cell bundles. CFTR-/- airway epithelial cells showed enhanced lipid peroxidation, suggesting inflammation early in life. CFTR was mainly expressed in airway submucosal glands and was absent in lungs of CFTR-/- piglets, while expression of TMEM16A was uncompromised. mRNA levels for TMEM16A, TMEM16F, and αßγENaC were unchanged in CFTR-/- airways, while mRNA for SLC26A9 appeared reduced. CFTR was undetectable in epithelial cells of CFTR-/- airways and intestine. Small intestinal epithelium of CFTR-/- piglets showed mucus accumulation. Secretion of both electrolytes and mucus was activated by stimulation with prostaglandin E2 and ATP in the intestine of CFTR+/+, but not of CFTR-/- animals. pH was measured inside small bronchi using a pH microelectrode and revealed no difference between CFTR+/+ and CFTR-/- piglets. Intracellular pH in porcine airway epithelial cells revealed only a small contribution of CFTR to bicarbonate secretion, which was absent in cells from CFTR-/- piglets. In contrast to earlier reports, our data suggest a minor impact of CFTR on ASL pH. In contrast, enhanced amiloride-sensitive Na+ absorption may contribute to lung pathology in CFTR-/- piglets, along with a compromised CFTR- and TMEM16A-dependent Cl- transport.

An Inhibitor of the Sodium-Hydrogen Exchanger-1 (NHE-1), Amiloride, Reduced Zinc Accumulation and Hippocampal Neuronal Death after Ischemia.

Acidosis in the brain plays an important role in neuronal injury and is a common feature of several neurological diseases. It has been reported that the sodium-hydrogen exchanger-1 (NHE-1) is a key mediator of acidosis-induced neuronal injury. It modulates the concentration of intra- and extra-cellular sodium and hydrogen ions. During the ischemic state, excessive sodium ions enter neurons and inappropriately activate the sodium-calcium exchanger (NCX). Zinc can also enter neurons through voltage-gated calcium channels and NCX. Here, we tested the hypothesis that zinc enters the intracellular space through NCX and the subsequent zinc accumulation induces neuronal cell death after global cerebral ischemia (GCI). Thus, we conducted the present study to confirm whether inhibition of NHE-1 by amiloride attenuates zinc accumulation and subsequent hippocampus neuronal death following GCI. Mice were subjected to GCI by bilateral common carotid artery (BCCA) occlusion for 30 min, followed by restoration of blood flow and resuscitation. Amiloride (10 mg/kg, intraperitoneally (i.p.)) was immediately injected, which reduced zinc accumulation and neuronal death after GCI. Therefore, the present study demonstrates that amiloride attenuates GCI-induced neuronal injury, likely via the prevention of intracellular zinc accumulation. Consequently, we suggest that amiloride may have a high therapeutic potential for the prevention of GCI-induced neuronal death.

Caenorhabditis elegans body wall muscles sense mechanical signals with an amiloride-sensitive cation channel.

C. elegans uses specialized mechanoreceptor neurons to sense various mechanical cues. However, whether other tissues and organs in C. elegans are able to perceive mechanical forces is not clear. In this study, with a whole-cell patch-clamp recording, we show that body wall muscles (BWMs) in C. elegans convert mechanical energy into ionic currents in a cell-autonomous manner. Mechano-gated ion channels in BWMs are blocked in amiloride or cation-free solutions. A further characterization of physiological properties of mechano-gate ion channels in BMWs and a genetic screening show that mechanosensation in BMWs is not dependent on UNC-105 and well-defined mechano-gated ion channels MEC-4 and TRP-4 in C. elegans. Taken together, our results demonstrate that BWMs in C. elegans function as mechanoreceptors to sense mechanical stimuli with an amiloride-sensitive, non-selective cation channel.

All-Electrical Ca2+-Independent Signal Transduction Mediates Attractive Sodium Taste in Taste Buds.

Sodium taste regulates salt intake. The amiloride-sensitive epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) is the Na+ sensor in taste cells mediating attraction to sodium salts. However, cells and intracellular signaling underlying sodium taste in taste buds remain long-standing enigmas. Here, we show that a subset of taste cells with ENaC activity fire action potentials in response to ENaC-mediated Na+ influx without changing the intracellular Ca2+ concentration and form a channel synapse with afferent neurons involving the voltage-gated neurotransmitter-release channel composed of calcium homeostasis modulator 1 (CALHM1) and CALHM3 (CALHM1/3). Genetic elimination of ENaC in CALHM1-expressing cells as well as global CALHM3 deletion abolished amiloride-sensitive neural responses and attenuated behavioral attraction to NaCl. Together, sodium taste is mediated by cells expressing ENaC and CALHM1/3, where oral Na+ entry elicits suprathreshold depolarization for action potentials driving voltage-dependent neurotransmission via the channel synapse. Thus, all steps in sodium taste signaling are voltage driven and independent of Ca2+ signals. This work also reveals ENaC-independent salt attraction.

Sodium Imbalance in Mice Results Primarily in Compensatory Gene Regulatory Responses in Kidney and Colon, but Not in Taste Tissue.

Renal excretion and sodium appetite provide the basis for sodium homeostasis. In both the kidney and tongue, the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) is involved in sodium uptake and sensing. The diuretic drug amiloride is known to block ENaC, producing a mild natriuresis. However, amiloride is further reported to induce salt appetite in rodents after prolonged exposure as well as bitter taste impressions in humans. To examine how dietary sodium content and amiloride impact on sodium appetite, mice were subjected to dietary salt and amiloride intervention and subsequently analyzed for ENaC expression and taste reactivity. We observed substantial changes of ENaC expression in the colon and kidney confirming the role of these tissues for sodium homeostasis, whereas effects on lingual ENaC expression and taste preferences were negligible. In comparison, prolonged exposure to amiloride-containing drinking water affected ß- and αENaC expression in fungiform and posterior taste papillae, respectively, next to changes in salt taste. However, amiloride did not only change salt taste sensation but also perception of sucrose, glutamate, and citric acid, which might be explained by the fact that amiloride itself activates bitter taste receptors in mice. Accordingly, exposure to amiloride generally affects taste impression and should be evaluated with care.

Lipopolysaccharide Inhibits Alpha Epithelial Sodium Channel Expression via MiR-124-5p in Alveolar Type 2  Epithelial Cells.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been a potential strategy in the pretreatment of pulmonary diseases, while the mechanisms of MSCs-conditioned medium (MSCs-CM) involved with microRNAs on the regulation of lung ion transport are seldom reported. We investigated the role of miR-124-5p in lipopolysaccharide-involved epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) dysfunction and explored the potential target of miR-124-5p. We observed the lower expression of miR-124-5p after the administration of MSCs-CM, and the overexpression or inhibition of miR-124-5p regulated epithelial sodium channel α-subunit (α-ENaC) expression at protein levels in mouse alveolar type 2 epithelial (AT2) cells. We confirmed that α-ENaC is one of the target genes of miR-124-5p through dual luciferase assay and Ussing chamber assay revealed that miR-124-5p inhibited amiloride-sensitive currents associated with ENaC activity in intact H441 monolayers. Our results demonstrate that miR-124-5p can decrease the expression and function of α-ENaC in alveolar epithelial cells by targeting the 3'-UTR. The involvement of MSCs-CM in lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury cell model could be related to the downregulation of miR-124-5p on α-ENaC, which may provide a new target for the treatment of acute lung injury.

Greater natriuretic response to ENaC inhibition in male versus female Sprague-Dawley rats.

Genes for the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) subunits are expressed in a circadian manner, but whether this results in time-of-day differences in activity is not known. Recent data show that protein expression of ENaC subunits is higher in kidneys from female rats, yet females are more efficient in excreting an acute salt load. Thus, our in vivo study determined whether there is a time-of-day difference as well as a sex difference in the response to ENaC inhibition by benzamil. Our results showed that the natriuretic and diuretic responses to a single dose of benzamil were significantly greater in male compared with female rats whether given at the beginning of the inactive period [Zeitgeber time 0 (ZT0), 7 AM] or active period (ZT12, 7 PM). However, the response to benzamil was not significantly different between ZT0 and ZT12 dosing in either male or female rats. There was no difference in renal cortical α-ENaC protein abundance between ZT0 and ZT12 or males and females. Given previous reports of flow-induced stimulation of endothelin-1 (ET-1) production and sex differences in the renal endothelin system, we measured urinary ET-1 excretion to assess the effects of increased urine flow on intrarenal ET-1. ET-1 excretion was significantly increased following benzamil administration in both sexes, but this increase was significantly greater in females. These results support the hypothesis that ENaC activity is less prominent in maintaining Na+ balance in females independent of renal ET-1. Because ENaC subunit genes and protein expression vary by time of day and are greater in female rat kidneys, this suggests a clear disconnect between ENaC expression and channel activity.