Effect of luminal angiotensin II on proximal tubule fluid transport: role of apical phospholipase A2.

Recent micropuncture studies showed the existence of high concentrations of angiotensin II (ANG II) in proximal tubular fluid. In the present study, we have examined the effect of luminal ANG II, alone and in combination with peritubular ANG II, on fluid transport (JV) in the isolated perfused rabbit proximal convoluted tubule. In comparison with peritubular ANG II, luminal ANG II caused a similar but more potent biphasic effect on JV. At 10(-11) M, luminal ANG II maximally increased JV to 204 +/- 22% of the baseline compared with 142 +/- 10% by peritubular ANG II at 10(-10) M. At 10(-8) M, luminal ANG II suppressed JV to 9.7 +/- 16% of the baseline compared with 64 +/- 14% by peritubular ANG II. When luminal and peritubular ANG II were combined at concentrations that impose similar effect on JV, the effects of luminal and peritubular ANG II were not additive. However, when combined at concentrations that would otherwise impose opposing effects on JV, the stimulatory effect predominated. In support of the role of apical phospholipase A2 (PLA2) on the effect of luminal ANG II, ANG II stimulated PLA2 activity in isolated brush-border membrane vesicles, and addition of PLA2 inhibitor, mepacrine or dibucaine, to the luminal perfusate attenuated the effect of luminal ANG II on JV. In summary, these studies show a potent effect of luminal ANG II on proximal tubule JV involving activation of brush-border membrane PLA2. When combined, luminal and peritubular ANG II exert their effects in concert on proximal tubule JV.

Brefeldin A inhibits phosphate transport in opossum kidney cells.

Brefeldin A (BFA) is a fungal metabolite that blocks the transport processes between the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi apparatus. In the present study, we have tested the effect of BFA on phosphate transport in a kidney epithelial cell line, opossum kidney (OK) cells. Electron microscopy showed that exposure of OK cells to BFA caused a rapid and reversible disorganization of Golgi apparatus. Addition of BFA also caused a time (2-8 h)- and dose (1-10 micrograms/ml)-dependent inhibition of Na(+)-dependent cell phosphate uptake. The inhibition of cell phosphate uptake by BFA was reversible and was associated with a decrease in the maximum velocity of phosphate transport. Both the inhibition and the stimulation of cell phosphate uptake by parathyroid hormone and insulin, respectively, were not affected by BFA. BFA at 1 microgram/ml concentration did not affect protein synthesis as determined by [3H]leucine incorporation but diminished the adaptive increase in cell phosphate uptake in response to 2 or 8 h of incubation in nominally phosphate-free medium. On the other hand, inhibition of protein synthesis by cycloheximide (5 microM) abolished the adaptive increase in cell phosphate uptake in response to 8 but not 2 h of incubation in nominally phosphate-free medium, indicating the existence of an early response to phosphate deprivation, which does not require new protein synthesis but is sensitive to the effect of BFA. In summary, results of these studies show that, in OK cells, BFA inhibits phosphate uptake and curtails the adaptive response to phosphate deprivation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Altered proximal tubule glucose metabolism in X-linked hypophosphatemic mice.

In the present study we examined renal proximal tubule glucose metabolism in the X-linked hypophosphatemic (Hyp/Y) mouse. Compared to those in its normal (+/Y) littermate, Hyp/Y mouse proximal tubules showed a higher rate of glucose production when using glutamine or alpha-ketoglutarate as a substrate. The glucose production rate was not, however, different when using malate or fructose as the substrate. PTH stimulated glucose production in +/Y, but not Hyp/Y, mouse proximal tubules. The PTH resistance in Hyp/Y mouse involves steps at and post-cAMP formation, because in Hyp/Y mouse proximal tubules PTH effects a lesser stimulation of cAMP generation, and addition of 8-bromo-cAMP failed to increase the glucose production rate. The rate of glucose utilization as a whole was not different in the two groups, but the rate of glucose metabolized through the pentose cycle (PC) pathway was markedly lower in Hyp/Y mouse proximal tubules. The lower PC activity in Hyp/Y mouse proximal tubules did not result from a defect of PC enzymes, because both glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase enzyme activities were intact, and phenazine methosulfate was able to stimulate PC activity. The higher rate of glucose production and the lower rate of PC activities persisted in the in vitro cultured Hyp/Y mouse proximal tubular cells. These results suggest that the altered glucose metabolism in the Hyp/Y mouse proximal tubule is not maintained by external influences and may be an abnormality intrinsic to these cells.

Production of angiotensinogen and renin-like activity by rabbit proximal tubular cells in culture.

Recent studies suggest the presence of local angiotensin generating system in the kidney. By using in situ hybridization technique, mRNA for angiotensinogen has been shown to be present in the proximal tubule. In the present study, we have attempted to examine the production of angiotensinogen and renin-like activity by the proximal convoluted (PCT) and straight (PST) tubular cells. PCT and PST cells were obtained from microdissected rabbit proximal tubules and cultured in vitro. Angiotensinogen and renin-like activity were quantitated in culture media and cell lysates. It was found that PCT culture medium contained both angiotensinogen and renin-like activity, whereas only angiotensinogen was detected in PST culture medium. Support for de novo synthesis is provided by the observation that both angiotensinogen and renin-like activity in PCT culture medium increased in a time-dependent and hormone-sensitive manner in defined serum-free medium. These results thus demonstrate the actual production of angiotensinogen and renin-like activity by proximal tubular cells, and indicate that these locally synthesized components may contribute to the regulation of angiotensin generation in renal proximal tubule.

Role of parathyroid hormone in rat remnant kidney ammonium metabolism.

The role of parathyroid hormone (PTH) in ammonium metabolism in the rat remnant kidney was studied by examining the effects of parathyroidectomy (PTx) in rats with intact kidneys and with 5/6 nephrectomy (Nx). PTx in rats with intact kidneys caused a rise in urine pH and a decrease in urinary ammonium excretion without affecting in vitro ammonium production rate or the ammonium content in the cortex. Unexpectedly, the ammonium content in the medulla was markedly reduced by PTx so that the corticomedullary ammonium gradient was inverted. As compared to control rats, rats with 5/6 Nx had a lower urinary ammonium excretion rate, a higher in vitro ammonium production rate, and an increase in ammonium content in both cortex and medulla with reduced corticomedullary ammonium gradient. PTx in rats with 5/6 Nx led to a further decrease in urinary ammonium excretion, attenuated the increase in the in vitro ammonium production rate, and lowered the ammonium content in both cortex and medulla with inverted corticomedullary ammonium gradient. These effects of PTx in Nx rats were corrected by continuous PTH infusion with Alzet minipump. In summary, results from these studies indicate that PTH plays an important role in maintaining the urinary ammonium excretion. In rats with intact kidneys, PTH contributes to urinary ammonium excretion by increasing urinary acidification and medullary ammonium accumulation. In rats with reduced nephron mass, PTH enhances urinary ammonium excretion by stimulating ammonium production and retaining medullary ammonium in the remnant kidney.

Thiol redox and phosphate transport in renal brush-border membrane. Effect of nicotinamide.

In the present study, the effect of thiol redox and its possible role in the inhibitory effect of nicotinamide on renal brush-border membrane (BBM) phosphate uptake was examined. Addition of thiol reducing agent, dithiothreitol (DTT, 5 mM), caused an increase, while addition of thiol oxidant, diamide (DM, 5 mM) caused a reversible decrease in sodium-dependent BBM phosphate uptake. Kinetic analyses revealed an increase in both Vmax and Km by DTT, and a decrease in Vmax by DM. These results suggest that thiol redox influences BBM phosphate uptake with sulfhydryl (SH) groups relate to its capacity and disulfide (SS) groups to its affinity for phosphate. Since changes in cytosolic NAD levels may affect BBM thiol redox through changes in redox states of NADP and glutathione systems, we have examined such possibility by studying the effect of nicotinamide (NM). Incubation of proximal tubules with NM (10 mM) induced an oxidative effect on redox states of cytosolic NAD, NADP systems as inferred from decreased cellular lactate/pyruvate, malate/pyruvate, respectively. Measurements of cytosolic glutathiones and BBM thiols also revealed that NM pretreatment shifted the cytosolic glutathione redox (GSH/GSSG) and BBM thiol redox (SH/SS) toward more oxidized state. On the other hand, incubation of proximal tubules with NM suppressed phosphate uptake by the subsequently isolated BBM vesicles. The lower phosphate uptake by NM-pretreated BBM vesicles was reversed by DTT and was resistant to the inhibitory effect of DM. These results thus suggest that BBM thiol oxidation may be involved in the inhibitory effect of NM on BBM phosphate uptake.