Altered localization, abnormal modification and loss of function of Sigma receptor-1 in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Intracellular accumulations of mutant, misfolded proteins are major pathological hallmarks of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and related disorders. Recently, mutations in Sigma receptor 1 (SigR1) have been found to cause a form of ALS and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). Our goal was to pinpoint alterations and modifications of SigR1 in ALS and to determine how these changes contribute to the pathogenesis of ALS. In the present study, we found that levels of the SigR1 protein were reduced in lumbar ALS patient spinal cord. SigR1 was abnormally accumulated in enlarged C-terminals and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) structures of alpha motor neurons. These accumulations co-localized with the 20s proteasome subunit. SigR1 accumulations were also observed in SOD1 transgenic mice, cultured ALS-8 patient's fibroblasts with the P56S-VAPB mutation and in neuronal cell culture models. Along with the accumulation of SigR1 and several other proteins involved in protein quality control, severe disturbances in the unfolded protein response and impairment of protein degradation pathways were detected in the above-mentioned cell culture systems. Furthermore, shRNA knockdown of SigR1 lead to deranged calcium signaling and caused abnormalities in ER and Golgi structures in cultured NSC-34 cells. Finally, pharmacological activation of SigR1 induced the clearance of mutant protein aggregates in these cells. Our results support the notion that SigR1 is abnormally modified and contributes to the pathogenesis of ALS.

Expressing acid-sensing ion channel 3 in the brain alters acid-evoked currents and impairs fear conditioning.

Previous studies on mice with a disruption of the gene encoding acid-sensing ion channel 1a (ASIC1a) suggest that ASIC1a is required for normal fear behavior. To investigate the effects of altering the subunit composition of brain ASICs on behavior, we developed transgenic mice expressing ASIC3 via the pan-neuronal synapsin I promoter. These mice express ASIC3 in the brain, where the endogenous ASIC3 protein is not detected. We found that in ASIC3 transgenic mice, ASIC3 co-immunoprecipitated with the endogenous ASIC1a protein and distributed in the same subcellular brain fractions as ASIC1a. In addition, ASIC3 significantly increased the rate of desensitization of acid-evoked currents in cultured cortical neurons. Importantly, ASIC3 reduced Pavlovian fear conditioning to both context and auditory cues. These observations suggest that ASIC3 can heteromultimerize with ASIC1a in the brain and alter the biophysical properties of the endogenous channel complex. Moreover, these data suggest that ASIC subunit composition and channel desensitization may be critical determinants for ASIC-dependent behavior.

Characterization of a voltage-dependent conductance in the basolateral membrane of leech skin epithelium.

Voltage clamp studies were performed on the dorsal integument of Hirudo medicinalis. Under apical calcium-free conditions an inward-directed component of transepithelial current was activated by changes of transepithelial voltage. Depolarization caused up to 50% increase of the transepithelial sodium current. Hyperpolarization had no comparable effects. With calcium (1.8 mM) or amiloride (100 microM) in the apical solution and in sodium-free solutions the inward-directed current failed to increase after depolarization. Activation also occurred under chloride-free conditions. Permeabilization of the apical membrane by nystatin (5 microM) increased the current activation significantly. After nystatin, calcium as well as amiloride lost their inhibitory effects. This indicates a basolateral localization of the voltage-dependent conductance. Vesicle insertion or cytoskeletal structures are probably not involved in regulation, as seen by the lack of effects of brefeldin A and the cytochalasins B and D. However, serosal hyposmolar solutions (170 mosmol.1(-1)) caused a reinforced activation of the current. Our results indicate a voltage-dependent conductance in a tight sodium-absorbing epithelium.

Stimulation of transepithelial Na(+) current by extracellular Gd(3+) in Xenopus laevis alveolar epithelium.

In the present study we investigated the effect of extracellular gadolinium on amiloride-sensitive Na(+) current across Xenopus alveolar epithelium by Ussing chamber experiments and studied its direct effect on epithelial Na(+) channels with the patch-clamp method. As observed in various epithelia, the short-circuit current ( I(sc)) and the amiloride-sensitive Na(+) current ( I(ami)) across Xenopus alveolar epithelium was downregulated by high apical Na(+) concentrations. Apical application of gadolinium (Gd(3+)) increased I(sc) in a dose-dependent manner ( EC(50) = 23.5 microM). The effect of Gd(3+) was sensitive to amiloride, which indicated the amiloride-sensitive transcellular Na(+) transport to be upregulated. Benz-imidazolyl-guanidin (BIG) and p-hydroxy-mercuribenzonic-acid (PHMB) probably release apical Na(+) channels from Na(+)-dependent autoregulating mechanisms. BIG did not stimulate transepithelial Na(+) currents across Xenopus lung epithelium but, interestingly, it prevented the stimulating effect of Gd(3+) on transepithelial Na(+) transport. PHMB increased I(sc) and this stimulation was similar to the effect of Gd(3+). Co-application of PHMB and Gd(3+) had no additive effects on I(sc). In cell-attached patches on Xenopus oocytes extracellular Gd(3+) increased the open probability ( NP(o)) of Xenopus epithelial sodium channels (ENaC) from 0.72 to 1.79 and decreased the single-channel conductance from 5.5 to 4.6 pS. Our data indicate that Xenopus alveolar epithelium exhibits Na(+)-dependent non-hormonal control of transepithelial Na(+) transport and that the earth metal gadolinium interferes with these mechanisms. The patch-clamp experiments indicate that Gd(3+) directly modulates the activity of ENaCs.

Regulation of cAMP-sensitive colonic epithelial Na+ channel in oocyte expression system.

In amphibian epithelia and in cortical collecting duct the antidiuretic peptide arginine-vasopressin (AVP) stimulates activity of epithelial Na+ channels (ENaCs). Generally, the AVP action upon Na+ (re)absorption is believed to be a cAMP/protein-kinase-A mediated mechanism. In the Xenopus oocyte expression system, however, a clear stimulation of ENaC activity by cAMP could not be reproduced with channel subunits cloned from A6 cells or rat colon. We have recently shown that membrane-permeant 8-(4-chlorophenylthio)-cAMP (cpt-cAMP) stimulates activity of a hybrid ENaC in Xenopus oocytes, that consists of an alpha-subunit cloned from guinea-pig colon and the beta- and gamma-subunit originating from rat colon (gpalpharbetagammaENaC). In the present study, we have further investigated the mechanisms by which cpt-cAMP upregulates gpalpharbetagammaENaC activity. Interestingly, we found AVP to stimulate the gpalpharbetagammaENaC in oocytes. Also, treatment with GTP-gamma-S largely activated this channel. In contrast, as a conflicting result, forskolin had no stimulatory effect on the cAMP-sensitive gpalpharbetagammaENaC. Experiments with Brefeldin A (BFA) or nocodazole suggested that only a minor part of cpt-cAMP-induced activation is probably due to an additional translocation of channel proteins into the oocyte membrane. In conclusion, the stimulatory effect of synthetic cpt-cAMP does not seem to be exclusively provided by classical cAMP/PKA-associated transduction mechanisms, i.e., as in A6 cells.

Prostaglandin E2 induces upregulation of Na+ transport across Xenopus lung epithelium.

The apical mucus on pulmonary epithelia is not only critical for physiological functions such as gas exchange or inflammatory processes, but also contains surfactants and multiple molecules that mediate cellular responses. A tight control of transepithelial ion transport maintains viscosity of this layer and, e.g., the amiloride-sensitive sodium channels (ENaCs) in lung epithelia of vertebrates are the most important regulatory sites for transcellular sodium uptake. Dysfunction of this sodium transport results in reduced liquid absorption and causes massive problems with gas exchange. We used dissected lungs of Xenopus laevis in Ussing chambers to investigate the influence of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) on the regulation of short-circuit current (ISC) and amiloride-sensitive sodium absorption (Iami). Apical application of PGE2 (1 microM) increased ISC by 38% and Iami by approximately 60%. In contrast, a different prostaglandin, PGI2, neither affected ISC nor Iami. Forskolin increased current to a similar magnitude and preincubation of the lung with an RP-isomer of cyclic AMP, an inhibitor of protein kinase A (PKA), abolished the effects of both PGE2 and forskolin. Transepithelial Na+ uptake was also upregulated by the prostaglandin receptor agonists misoprostol and sulprostone. The Iami in Xenopus oocytes that heterologously expressed ENaCs was not affected by PGE2.

Effects of 8-cpt-cAMP on the epithelial sodium channel expressed in Xenopus oocytes.

Vasopressin stimulates the activity of the epithelial Na channel (ENaC) through the cAMP/PKA pathway in the cortical collecting tubule, or in similar amphibian epithelia, but the mechanism of this regulation is not yet understood. This stimulation by cAMP could not be reproduced with the rat or Xenopus ENaC expressed in Xenopus oocyte. Recently, it was shown that the alpha-subunit cloned from the guinea-pig colon (alpha gp) could confer the ability to be activated by the membrane-permeant cAMP analogue 8-chlorophenyl-thio-cAMP (cpt-cAMP) to channels produced by expression of alpha gp, beta rat and gamma rat ENaC subunits. In this study we investigate the mechanism of this activation. Forskolin treatment, endogenous production of cAMP by activation of coexpressed beta adrenergic receptors, or intracellular perfusion with cAMP did not increase the amiloride-sensitive Na current, even though these maneuvers stimulated CFTR (cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator)-mediated Cl currents. In contrast, extracellular 8-cpt-cAMP increased alpha gp, beta rat and gamma rat ENaC activity but had no effect on CFTR. Swapping intracellular domains between the cpt-cAMP-sensitive alpha gp and the cpt-cAMP-resistant alpha rat-subunit showed that neither the N-terminal nor the C-terminal of alpha ENaC was responsible for the effect of cpt-cAMP. The mechanisms of activation of ENaC by cpt-cAMP and of CFTR by the cAMP/PKA pathway are clearly different. cpt-cAMP seems to increase the activity of ENaC formed by alpha gp and beta gamma rat by interacting with the extracellular part of the protein.

cAMP sensitivity conferred to the epithelial Na+ channel by alpha-subunit cloned from guinea-pig colon.

The rate of Na+ (re)absorption across tight epithelia such as in distal kidney nephron and colon is to a large extent controlled at the level of the epithelial Na+ channel (ENaC). In kidney, antidiuretic hormone (ADH, vasopressin) stimulates the expression/activity of this channel by a cAMP/protein-kinase-A- (PKA-) mediated pathway. However, a clear upregulation of ENaC function by cAMP could not be reproduced with cloned channel subunits in the Xenopus oocyte expression system, suggesting the hypothesis that an additional factor is missing. In contrast, we show here that membrane-permeant cAMP can activate ENaC expressed in Xenopus oocytes (3.8-fold) upon replacement of the rat alpha-subunit by a new alpha-subunit cloned from guinea-pig colon (gpalpha). This alpha-subunit is 76% identical with its rat orthologue originating from ADH-insensitive rat colon. The biophysical fingerprints of the hybrid ENaC formed by this guinea-pig alpha-subunit together with rat beta- and gamma-subunits are indistinguishable from those of rat ENaC (rENaC). Injection of the PKA inhibitor PKI-(6-22)-amide into the oocyte had no effect on the basal activity of rat ENaC but inhibited the activity of gpalpha-containing hybrid ENaC and greatly decreased its stimulation by cAMP. This suggests that, unlike for rat ENaC, tonic PKA activity is required for basal function of gpalpha-containing ENaC and that PKA mediates its cAMP-induced activation. This regulatory behaviour is not common to all ENaCs containing an alpha-subunit cloned from an ADH-responsive tissue since xENaC, which was cloned from the ADH-sensitive Xenopus laevis A6 epithelia, is, when expressed in oocytes, resistant to cAMP, similar to rat ENaC. This study demonstrates that the PKA sensitivity of ENaC can depend on the nature of the ENaC alpha-subunit and raises the possibility that cAMP can stimulate ENaCs by different mechanisms.