ß1-Adrenergic receptor signaling activates the epithelial calcium channel, transient receptor potential vanilloid type 5 (TRPV5), via the protein kinase A pathway.

Epinephrine and norepinephrine are present in the pro-urine. ß-Adrenergic receptor (ß-AR) blockers administered to counteract sympathetic overstimulation in patients with congestive heart failure have a negative inotropic effect, resulting in reduced cardiac contractility. Positive inotropes, ß1-AR agonists, are used to improve cardiac functions. Active Ca(2+) reabsorption in the late distal convoluted and connecting tubules (DCT2/CNT) is initiated by Ca(2+) influx through the transient receptor potential vanilloid type 5 (TRPV5) Ca(2+) channel. Although it was reported that ß-ARs are present in the DCT2/CNT region, their role in active Ca(2+) reabsorption remains elusive. Here we revealed that ß1-AR, but not ß2-AR, is localized with TRPV5 in DCT2/CNT. Subsequently, treatment of TRPV5-expressing mouse DCT2/CNT primary cell cultures with the ß1-AR agonist dobutamine showed enhanced apical-to-basolateral transepithelial Ca(2+) transport. In human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells, dobutamine was shown to stimulate cAMP production, signifying functional ß1-AR expression. Fura-2 experiments demonstrated increased activity of TRPV5 in response to dobutamine, which could be prevented by the PKA inhibitor H89. Moreover, nonphosphorylable T709A-TRPV5 and phosphorylation-mimicking T709D-TRPV5 mutants were unresponsive to dobutamine. Surface biotinylation showed that dobutamine did not affect plasma membrane abundance of TRPV5. In conclusion, activation of ß1-AR stimulates active Ca(2+) reabsorption in DCT2/CNT; an increase in TRPV5 activity via PKA phosphorylation of residue Thr-709 possibly plays an important role. These data explicate a calciotropic role in addition to the inotropic property of ß1-AR.

Loss of insulin-induced activation of TRPM6 magnesium channels results in impaired glucose tolerance during pregnancy.

Hypomagnesemia affects insulin resistance and is a risk factor for diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the epithelial magnesium channel TRPM6 (V(1393)I, K(1584)E) were predicted to confer susceptibility for DM2. Here, we show using patch clamp analysis and total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy, that insulin stimulates TRPM6 activity via a phosphoinositide 3-kinase and Rac1-mediated elevation of cell surface expression of TRPM6. Interestingly, insulin failed to activate the genetic variants TRPM6(V(1393)I) and TRPM6(K(1584)E), which is likely due to the inability of the insulin signaling pathway to phosphorylate TRPM6(T(1391)) and TRPM6(S(1583)). Moreover, by measuring total glycosylated hemoglobin (TGH) in 997 pregnant women as a measure of glucose control, we demonstrate that TRPM6(V(1393)I) and TRPM6(K(1584)E) are associated with higher TGH and confer a higher likelihood of developing GDM. The impaired response of TRPM6(V(1393)I) and TRPM6(K(1584)E) to insulin represents a unique molecular pathway leading to GDM where the defect is located in TRPM6.

Mutations in PCBD1 cause hypomagnesemia and renal magnesium wasting.

Mutations in PCBD1 are causative for transient neonatal hyperphenylalaninemia and primapterinuria (HPABH4D). Until now, HPABH4D has been regarded as a transient and benign neonatal syndrome without complications in adulthood. In our study of three adult patients with homozygous mutations in the PCBD1 gene, two patients were diagnosed with hypomagnesemia and renal Mg(2+) loss, and two patients developed diabetes with characteristics of maturity onset diabetes of the young (MODY), regardless of serum Mg(2+) levels. Our results suggest that these clinical findings are related to the function of PCBD1 as a dimerization cofactor for the transcription factor HNF1B. Mutations in the HNF1B gene have been shown to cause renal malformations, hypomagnesemia, and MODY. Gene expression studies combined with immunohistochemical analysis in the kidney showed that Pcbd1 is expressed in the distal convoluted tubule (DCT), where Pcbd1 transcript levels are upregulated by a low Mg(2+)-containing diet. Overexpression in a human kidney cell line showed that wild-type PCBD1 binds HNF1B to costimulate the FXYD2 promoter, the activity of which is instrumental in Mg(2+) reabsorption in the DCT. Of seven PCBD1 mutations previously reported in HPABH4D patients, five mutations caused proteolytic instability, leading to reduced FXYD2 promoter activity. Furthermore, cytosolic localization of PCBD1 increased when coexpressed with HNF1B mutants. Overall, our findings establish PCBD1 as a coactivator of the HNF1B-mediated transcription necessary for fine tuning FXYD2 transcription in the DCT and suggest that patients with HPABH4D should be monitored for previously unrecognized late complications, such as hypomagnesemia and MODY diabetes.

Coordinated regulation of TRPV5-mediated Ca²âº transport in primary distal convolution cultures.

Fine-tuning of renal calcium ion (Ca(2+)) reabsorption takes place in the distal convoluted and connecting tubules (distal convolution) of the kidney via transcellular Ca(2+) transport, a process controlled by the epithelial Ca(2+) channel Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 5 (TRPV5). Studies to delineate the molecular mechanism of transcellular Ca(2+) transport are seriously hampered by the lack of a suitable cell model. The present study describes the establishment and validation of a primary murine cell model of the distal convolution. Viable kidney tubules were isolated from mice expressing enhanced Green Fluorescent Protein (eGFP) under the control of a TRPV5 promoter (pTRPV5-eGFP), using Complex Object Parametric Analyser and Sorting (COPAS) technology. Tubules were grown into tight monolayers on semi-permeable supports. Radioactive (45)Ca(2+) assays showed apical-to-basolateral transport rates of 13.5 ± 1.2 nmol/h/cm(2), which were enhanced by the calciotropic hormones parathyroid hormone and 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D3. Cell cultures lacking TRPV5, generated by crossbreeding pTRPV5-eGFP with TRPV5 knockout mice (TRPV5(-/-)), showed significantly reduced transepithelial Ca(2+) transport (26 % of control), for the first time directly confirming the key role of TRPV5. Most importantly, using this cell model, a novel molecular player in transepithelial Ca(2+) transport was identified: mRNA analysis revealed that ATP-dependent Ca(2+)-ATPase 4 (PMCA4) instead of PMCA1 was enriched in isolated tubules and downregulated in TRPV5(-/-) material. Immunohistochemical stainings confirmed co-localization of PMCA4 with TRPV5 in the distal convolution. In conclusion, a novel primary cell model with TRPV5-dependent Ca(2+) transport characteristics was successfully established, enabling comprehensive studies of transcellular Ca(2+) transport.

Elucidation of the distal convoluted tubule transcriptome identifies new candidate genes involved in renal Mg(2+) handling.

The kidney plays a key role in the maintenance of Mg(2+) homeostasis. Specifically, the distal convoluted tubule (DCT) is instrumental in the fine-tuning of renal Mg(2+) handling. In recent years, hereditary Mg(2+) transport disorders have helped to identify important players in DCT Mg(2+) homeostasis. Nevertheless, several proteins involved in DCT-mediated Mg(2+) reabsorption remain to be discovered, and a full expression profile of this complex nephron segment may facilitate the discovery of new Mg(2+)-related genes. Here, we report Mg(2+)-sensitive expression of the DCT transcriptome. To this end, transgenic mice expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein under a DCT-specific parvalbumin promoter were subjected to Mg(2+)-deficient or Mg(2+)-enriched diets. Subsequently, the Complex Object Parametric Analyzer and Sorter allowed, for the first time, isolation of enhanced green fluorescent protein-positive DCT cells. RNA extracts thereof were analyzed by DNA microarrays comparing high versus low Mg(2+) to identify Mg(2+) regulatory genes. Based on statistical significance and a fold change of at least 2, 46 genes showed differential expression. Several known magnesiotropic genes, such as transient receptor potential cation channel, subfamily M, member 6 (Trpm6), and Parvalbumin, were upregulated under low dietary Mg(2+). Moreover, new genes were identified that are potentially involved in renal Mg(2+) handling. To confirm that the selected candidate genes were regulated by dietary Mg(2+) availability, the expression levels of solute carrier family 41, member 3 (Slc41a3), pterin-4 α-carbinolamine dehydratase/dimerization cofactor of hepatocyte nuclear factor-1α (Pcbd1), TBC1 domain family, member 4 (Tbc1d4), and uromodulin (Umod) were determined by RT-PCR analysis. Indeed, all four genes show significant upregulation in the DCT of mice fed a Mg(2+)-deficient diet. By elucidating the Mg(2+)-sensitive DCT transcriptome, new candidate genes in renal Mg(2+) handling have been identified.

A primary culture of distal convoluted tubules expressing functional thiazide-sensitive NaCl transport.

Studying the molecular regulation of the thiazide-sensitive Na(+)-Cl(-) cotransporter (NCC) is important for understanding how the kidney contributes to blood pressure regulation. Until now, a native mammalian cell model to investigate this transporter remained unknown. Our aim here is to establish, for the first time, a primary distal convoluted tubule (DCT) cell culture exhibiting transcellular thiazide-sensitive Na(+) transport. Because parvalbumin (PV) is primarily expressed in the DCT, where it colocalizes with NCC, kidneys from mice expressing enhanced green-fluorescent protein (eGFP) under the PV gene promoter (PV-eGFP-mice) were employed. The Complex Object Parametric Analyzer and Sorter (COPAS) was used to sort fluorescent PV-positive tubules from these kidneys, which were then seeded onto permeable supports. After 6 days, DCT cell monolayers developed transepithelial resistance values of 630 ± 33 Ω·cm(2). The monolayers also established opposing transcellular concentration gradients of Na(+) and K(+). Radioactive (22)Na(+) flux experiments showed a net apical-to-basolateral thiazide-sensitive Na(+) transport across the monolayers. Both hypotonic low-chloride medium and 1 µM angiotensin II increased this (22)Na(+) transport significantly by four times, which could be totally blocked by 100 µM hydrochlorothiazide. Angiotensin II-stimulated (22)Na(+) transport was also inhibited by 1 µM losartan. Furthermore, NCC present in the DCT monolayers was detected by immunoblot and immunocytochemistry studies. In conclusion, a murine primary DCT culture was established which expresses functional thiazide-sensitive Na(+)-Cl(-) transport.

Peripheral and axial substitution of phthalocyanines with solketal groups: synthesis and in vitro evaluation for photodynamic therapy.

Phthalocyanines (Pcs) are a class of photosensitizers (PSs) with a strong tendency to aggregate in aqueous environment, which has a negative influence on their photosensitizing ability in photodynamic therapy. Pcs with either peripheral or axial solketal substituents, that is, ZnPc(sol)8 and Si(sol)2Pc, respectively, were synthesized and their tendency to aggregate as well as their photodynamic properties in 14C and B16F10 cell lines were evaluated. The results were compared to more hydrophilic silicon Pcs, that is, Si(PEG750)2Pc and Pc4. The order of cellular uptake was Pc4 > ZnPc(sol)8 > Si(PEG750)2Pc > Si(sol2)Pc. In contrast, Si(sol2)Pc showed the highest photocytotoxicity, while ZnPc(sol)8 did not show any photocytotoxicity up to a concentration of 10 microM in both cell types. UV/vis spectroscopy showed that Si(sol)2Pc is less prone to aggregation than ZnPc(sol)8, which can explain the lack of photoactivity of the latter. Si(sol)2Pc was predominantly located in lipid droplets, whereas Si(PEG750)2Pc was homogeneously distributed in the cytosol, which is probably the main cause of their difference in photoactivity. The very high photodynamic efficacy of Si(sol)2Pc makes this PS an interesting candidate for future studies.

New TRPM6 missense mutations linked to hypomagnesemia with secondary hypocalcemia.

Despite recent progress in our understanding of renal magnesium (Mg(2+)) handling, the molecular mechanisms accounting for transepithelial Mg(2+) transport are still poorly understood. Mutations in the TRPM6 gene, encoding the epithelial Mg(2+) channel TRPM6 (transient receptor potential melastatin 6), have been proven to be the molecular cause of hypomagnesemia with secondary hypocalcemia (HSH; OMIM 602014). HSH manifests in the newborn period being characterized by very low serum Mg(2+) levels (<0.4 mmol/l) accompanied by low serum calcium (Ca(2+)) concentrations. A proportion of previously described TRPM6 mutations lead to a truncated TRPM6 protein resulting in a complete loss-of-function of the ion channel. In addition, five-point mutations have been previously described. The aim of this study was to complement the current clinical picture by adding the molecular data from five new missense mutations found in five patients with HSH. To this end, patch-clamp analysis and cell surface measurements were performed to assess the effect of the various mutations on TRPM6 channel function. All mutant channels, expressed in HEK293 cells, showed loss-of-function, whereas no severe trafficking impairment to the plasma membrane surface was observed. We conclude that the new TRPM6 missense mutations lead to dysregulated intestinal/renal Mg(2+) (re)absorption as a consequence of loss of TRPM6 channel function.

A helix-breaking mutation in the epithelial Ca(2+) channel TRPV5 leads to reduced Ca(2+)-dependent inactivation.

TRPV5, a member of transient receptor potential (TRP) superfamily of ion channels, plays a crucial role in epithelial calcium transport in the kidney. This channel has a high selectivity for Ca(2+) and is tightly regulated by intracellular Ca(2+) concentrations. Recently it was shown that the molecular basis of deafness in varitint-waddler mouse is the result of hair cell death caused by the constitutive activity of transient receptor potential mucolipin 3 (TRPML3) channel carrying a helix breaking mutation, A419P, at the intracellular proximity of the fifth transmembrane domain (TM5). This mutation significantly elevates intracellular Ca(2+) concentration and causes rapid cell death. Here we show that substituting the equivalent location in TRPV5, the M490, to proline significantly modulates Ca(2+)-dependent inactivation of TRPV5. The single channel conductance, time constant of inactivation (τ) and half maximal inhibition constant (IC(50)) of TRPV5(M490P) were increased compared to TRPV5(WT). Moreover TRPV5(M490P) showed lower Ca(2+) permeability. Out of different point mutations created to characterize the importance of M490 in Ca(2+)-dependent inactivation, only TRPV5(M490P)-expressing cells showed apoptosis and extremely altered Ca(2+)-dependent inactivation. In conclusion, the TRPV5 channel is susceptible for helix breaking mutations and the proximal intracellular region of TM5 of this channel plays an important role in Ca(2+)-dependent inactivation.

Regulation of the epithelial Mg2+ channel TRPM6 by estrogen and the associated repressor protein of estrogen receptor activity (REA).

The maintenance of the Mg(2+) balance of the body is essential for neuromuscular excitability, protein synthesis, nucleic acid stability, and numerous enzymatic systems. The Transient Receptor Potential Melastatin 6 (TRPM6) functions as the gatekeeper of transepithelial Mg(2+) transport. However, the molecular regulation of TRPM6 channel activity remains elusive. Here, we identified the repressor of estrogen receptor activity (REA) as an interacting protein of TRPM6 that binds to the 6(th), 7(th), and 8(th) beta-sheets in its alpha-kinase domain. Importantly, REA and TRPM6 are coexpressed in renal Mg(2+)-transporting distal convoluted tubules (DCT). We demonstrated that REA significantly inhibits TRPM6, but not its closest homologue TRPM7, channel activity. This inhibition occurs in a phosphorylation-dependent manner, since REA has no effect on the TRPM6 phosphotransferase-deficient mutant (K1804R), while it still binds to this mutant. Moreover, activation of protein kinase C by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-PMA potentiated the inhibitory effect of REA on TRPM6 channel activity. Finally, we showed that the interaction between REA and TRPM6 is a dynamic process, as short-term 17beta-estradiol treatment disassociates the binding between these proteins. In agreement with this, 17beta-estradiol treatment significantly stimulates the TRPM6-mediated current in HEK293 cells. These results suggest a rapid pathway for the effect of estrogen on Mg(2+) homeostasis in addition to its transcriptional effect. Together, these data indicate that REA operates as a negative feedback modulator of TRPM6 in the regulation of active Mg(2+) (re)absorption and provides new insight into the molecular mechanism of renal transepithelial Mg(2+) transport.

Photocytotoxicity of mTHPC (temoporfin) loaded polymeric micelles mediated by lipase catalyzed degradation.

PURPOSE: To study the in vitro photocytotoxicity and cellular uptake of biodegradable polymeric micelles loaded with the photosensitizer mTHPC, including the effect of lipase-catalyzed micelle degradation. METHODS: Micelles of mPEG750-b-oligo(epsilon-caprolactone)5 (mPEG750-b-OCL5) with a hydroxyl (OH), benzoyl (Bz) or naphthoyl (Np) end group were formed and loaded with mTHPC by the film hydration method. The cellular uptake of the loaded micelles, and their photocytotoxicity on human neck squamous carcinoma cells in the absence and presence of lipase were compared with free and liposomal mTHPC (Fospeg). RESULTS: Micelles composed of mPEG750-b-OCL5 with benzoyl and naphtoyl end groups had the highest loading capacity up to 30% (w/w), likely due to pi-pi interactions between the aromatic end group and the photosensitizer. MTHPC-loaded benzoylated micelles (0.5 mg/mL polymer) did not display photocytotoxicity or any mTHPC-uptake by the cells, in contrast to free and liposomal mTHPC. After dilution of the micelles below the critical aggregation concentration (CAC), or after micelle degradation by lipase, photocytotoxicity and cellular uptake of mTHPC were restored. CONCLUSION: The high loading capacity of the micelles, the high stability of mTHPC-loaded micelles above the CAC, and the lipase-induced release of the photosensitizer makes these micelles very promising carriers for photodynamic therapy in vivo.

Photosensitiser-loaded biodegradable polymeric micelles: preparation, characterisation and in vitro PDT efficacy.

The application of photosensitisers (PSs) in photodynamic therapy (PDT) is often hampered by their hydrophobicity, as this complicates their formulation and results in an unfavourable biodistribution. Consequently, there is an urgent need for novel delivery vehicles for PSs. In this paper, the loading and stability of thermosensitive mPEG-b-p(HPMAm-Lac2) micelles with a hydrophobic solketal-substituted phthalocyanine (Si(sol)2Pc) photosensitiser were studied. It was shown that the Si(sol)2Pc could be loaded efficiently in the micelles (diameter 75 nm) up to a concentration of approximately 2 mg/mL. UV/Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy showed that at low concentrations (< or =0.05 microM, 0.45 mg/mL polymer), the PS was molecularly dissolved in the micellar core, whereas it was present in an aggregated form at higher concentrations. In B16F10 and 14C cells, the photocytotoxicity of Si(sol)2Pc-loaded micelles (PS<0.05 microM) was similar to free PS, i.e. IC(50) of 3.0+/-0.2 nM (10% serum). The cellular uptake of high-loaded micelles (10 microM Si(sol)2Pc) was low and independent of the serum concentration. The nanoaggregates of Si(sol)2Pc loaded in the micellar core were only released upon hydrolysis-induced micellar dissociation, which was observed after 5.5 h at pH 8.7 at 37 degrees C. The stability of the high-loaded micellar Si(sol)2Pc formulation also in the presence of serum, the controlled release of the PS upon micellar disintegration and the high photodynamic activity of Si(sol)2Pc make these micelles interesting for future in vivo studies.