Receptors for natriuretic peptides in a human cortical collecting duct cell line.

The aim of the present study was to analyze the expression of natriuretic peptide receptors in human collecting duct, by using a newly established SV40 cell line (HCD). ANP and C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) induced a concentration-dependent increase in cGMP suggesting the presence of type-A (NPR-A) and type-B (NPR-B) receptors, respectively. Threshold concentrations were 1 pM and 1 nM, respectively, and stimulated over basal cGMP ratios were 500 and 160 at 0.1 microM ANP and CNP. The urodilatin concentration-response curve was similar to that of ANP. [125I]-ANP bound specifically to HCD cells in a time-dependent fashion, reaching a plateau-phase between one and two hours at 4 degrees C. Equilibrium saturation binding curves suggested a single group of receptor sites (Kd = 421 +/- 55 pM, Bmax = 49.2 +/- 8.8 fmol/mg protein, Hill coefficient = 1.44 +/- 0.1, N = 6). Binding of [125I]-ANP was not displaced by CNP or by C-ANP (4-23), a specific ligand of clearance receptors (NPR-C), and thus occurred mainly via NPR-A. Neither Northern blot analysis nor RT-PCR could detect NPR-C mRNA, although the latter was clearly identified in control human glomerular visceral epithelial cells. In contrast, PCR products with the expected lengths were obtained for NPR-A and NPR-B. In conclusion, HCD cells express both NPR-A and NPR-B, as demonstrated by mRNA and cGMP production studies, but fail to produce NPR-C. This suggests that the human cortical collecting duct is a target for ANP, CNP and urodilatin.

ANP-stimulated cGMP egression in renal principal cells: abrogation of polarity by SV40 large T.

Egression of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP)-stimulated guanosine 3', 5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) was compared with that of isoproterenol-stimulated adenosine 3', 5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) in a rabbit collecting duct cell line transformed with a temperature-sensitive strain of simian virus 40 (SV40). At 39.5 degrees C (inactivated large T), cells exhibit major features of principal cells, whereas at 33 degrees C (functional large T) they lose most of their specific properties. When cells were grown on plastic at 39.5 degrees C, both cyclic nucleotides were predominantly released extracellularly via probenecid-sensitive carriers. Probenecid (3mM) reduced the ratios of extracellular cGMP and cAMP by 84 and 70%, respectively. The amount of extracellular cGMP or cAMP ws linearly correlated with the time integral of the intracellular cyclic nucleotide, suggesting first-order kinetics. The apparent first-order rate constant (k) was sixfold greater for cGMP (0.139 +/- 0.037 min-1, n = 3 experiments) than for cAMP (0.022 +/- 0.003(-1), n = 3 experiments). 3-Isobutyl-1-methylxanthine markedly inhibited extrusion of cGMP (k = 0.022 +/- 0.003 min-1), whereas that of cAMP was unchanged. When cells were grown on filters at 39.5 degrees C, both nucleotides were predominantly released in the apical medium but with a greater polarity for cGMP (83 +/- 4%, n = 6 experiments) than for cAMP (60 +/- 6%, n = 3 experiments) and a prevailing apical localization of the probenecid-sensitive carrier. Activation of SV40 large T at 33 degrees C did not alter cyclic nucleotide transport characteristics but abolished the polarity of probenecid-sensitive cyclic nucleotide extrusion. These results suggest a physiological role for luminal cGMP in the rabbit collecting duct and a specific effect of large T on the probenecid-sensitive carrier polarity.

Activation of guinea pig alveolar macrophages by endothelin-1.

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) induced a concentration- and time-dependent increase in arachidonic acid release from guinea pig alveolar macrophages, a maximum being reached at 1 nM ET-1. Regarding the time-course study, maximal release of arachidonic acid was observed after 30 s of incubation with ET-1 and then followed by a marked decrease, suggesting a reuptake of free arachidonic acid. ET-1 (0.1-10 nM) induced a concentration- and time-dependent release of TXB2, the stable metabolite of TXA2, evaluated by an ELISA technique. Maximum release was also obtained with 1 nM ET-1 but only after a 1-min incubation period. By contrast, ET-1 (1 pM-1 microM) did not stimulate the release of superoxide anion at any time point of the kinetic study. These results suggests that ET-1 may activate guinea pig alveolar macrophages, probably through a mechanism involving the arachidonic acid pathway.