Aquaporins in the Kidney: From Molecules to Medicine

2002 ◽  
Vol 82 (1) ◽  
pp. 205-244 ◽  
Author(s):  
Søren Nielsen ◽  
Jørgen Frøkiær ◽  
David Marples ◽  
Tae-Hwan Kwon ◽  
Peter Agre ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Water Balance ◽  
Diabetes Insipidus ◽  
Proximal Tubule ◽  
Water Retention ◽  
Collecting Duct ◽  
Apical Plasma Membrane ◽  
Urinary Concentration ◽  
Principal Cells ◽  
Intracellular Vesicles

The discovery of aquaporin-1 (AQP1) answered the long-standing biophysical question of how water specifically crosses biological membranes. In the kidney, at least seven aquaporins are expressed at distinct sites. AQP1 is extremely abundant in the proximal tubule and descending thin limb and is essential for urinary concentration. AQP2 is exclusively expressed in the principal cells of the connecting tubule and collecting duct and is the predominant vasopressin-regulated water channel. AQP3 and AQP4 are both present in the basolateral plasma membrane of collecting duct principal cells and represent exit pathways for water reabsorbed apically via AQP2. Studies in patients and transgenic mice have demonstrated that both AQP2 and AQP3 are essential for urinary concentration. Three additional aquaporins are present in the kidney. AQP6 is present in intracellular vesicles in collecting duct intercalated cells, and AQP8 is present intracellularly at low abundance in proximal tubules and collecting duct principal cells, but the physiological function of these two channels remains undefined. AQP7 is abundant in the brush border of proximal tubule cells and is likely to be involved in proximal tubule water reabsorption. Body water balance is tightly regulated by vasopressin, and multiple studies now have underscored the essential roles of AQP2 in this. Vasopressin regulates acutely the water permeability of the kidney collecting duct by trafficking of AQP2 from intracellular vesicles to the apical plasma membrane. The long-term adaptational changes in body water balance are controlled in part by regulated changes in AQP2 and AQP3 expression levels. Lack of functional AQP2 is seen in primary forms of diabetes insipidus, and reduced expression and targeting are seen in several diseases associated with urinary concentrating defects such as acquired nephrogenic diabetes insipidus, postobstructive polyuria, as well as acute and chronic renal failure. In contrast, in conditions with water retention such as severe congestive heart failure, pregnancy, and syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion, both AQP2 expression levels and apical plasma membrane targetting are increased, suggesting a role for AQP2 in the development of water retention. Continued analysis of the aquaporins is providing detailed molecular insight into the fundamental physiology and pathophysiology of water balance and water balance disorders.

scholarly journals Physiology and Pathophysiology of Renal Aquaporins

1999 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 647-663
Author(s):  
SØREN NIELSEN ◽  
TAE-HWAN KWON ◽  
BIRGITTE MØNSTER CHRISTENSEN ◽  
DOMINIQUE PROMENEUR ◽  
JØRGEN FRØKIÆR ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Balance ◽  
Diabetes Insipidus ◽  
Proximal Tubule ◽  
Nephrogenic Diabetes Insipidus ◽  
Collecting Duct ◽  
Water Channels ◽  
Apical Plasma Membrane ◽  
Water Reabsorption ◽  
Balance Disorders

Abstract. The discovery of aquaporin membrane water channels by Agre and coworkers answered a long-standing biophysical question of how water specifically crosses biologic membranes, and provided insight, at the molecular level, into the fundamental physiology of water balance and the pathophysiology of water balance disorders. Of nine aquaporin isoforms, at least six are known to be present in the kidney at distinct sites along the nephron and collecting duct. Aquaporin-1 (AQP1) is extremely abundant in the proximal tubule and descending thin limb, where it appears to provide the chief route for proximal nephron water reabsorption. AQP2 is abundant in the collecting duct principal cells and is the chief target for vasopressin to regulate collecting duct water reabsorption. Acute regulation involves vasopressin-regulated trafficking of AQP2 between an intracellular reservoir and the apical plasma membrane. In addition, AQP2 is involved in chronic/adaptational regulation of body water balance achieved through regulation of AQP2 expression. Importantly, multiple studies have now identified a critical role of AQP2 in several inherited and acquired water balance disorders. This concerns inherited forms of nephrogenic diabetes insipidus and several, much more common acquired types of nephrogenic diabetes insipidus where AQP2 expression and/or targeting are affected. Conversely, AQP2 expression and targeting appear to be increased in some conditions with water retention such as pregnancy and congestive heart failure. AQP3 and AQP4 are basolateral water channels located in the kidney collecting duct, and AQP6 and AQP7 appear to be expressed at lower abundance at several sites including the proximal tubule. This review focuses mainly on the role of AQP2 in water balance regulation and in the pathophysiology of water balance disorders.

scholarly journals Immunoelectron Microscopic Localization of the Electrogenic Na/HCO3 Cotransporter in Rat and Ambystoma Kidney

2000 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 2179-2189
Author(s):  
ARVID B. MAUNSBACH ◽  
HENRIK VORUM ◽  
TAE-HWAN KWON ◽  
SØREN NIELSEN ◽  
BRIAN SIMONSEN ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Proximal Tubule ◽  
Rat Kidney ◽  
Proximal Tubules ◽  
Kidney Cortex ◽  
Apical Plasma Membrane ◽  
Rat Kidney Cortex ◽  
C Terminus ◽  
Basolateral Plasma Membrane ◽  
Intracellular Vesicles

Abstract. Immunofluorescence analysis has revealed that electrogenic Na+/HCO3- (NBC1) is expressed in the proximal tubule of rat kidney and in the proximal and distal tubules of the salamander Ambystoma tigrinum kidney. The present study was undertaken to define the detailed subcellular localization of the NBC1 in rat and Ambystoma kidney using high-resolution immunoelectron microscopy. For this purpose, two rabbit polyclonal antibodies raised against amino acids 928 to 1035 and amino acids 1021 to 1035 of the C-terminus of rat kidney (rkNBC1) were developed. The affinity-purified antibodies revealed a strong band of approximately 140 kD in immunoblots of membranes from rat kidney cortex but no signal in membranes isolated from outer and inner medulla. Deglycosylation reduced the apparent molecular weight to approximately 120 kD, corresponding to the predicted molecular weight. A similar but weaker band was also present in membranes isolated from the lateral part of Ambystoma kidney. In rat kidney, immunohistochemistry confirmed the presence of rkNBC1 in convoluted segments of the proximal tubules. In ultrathin cryosections or Lowicryl HM20 sections from rat kidney cortex, distinct immunogold labeling was associated with the basolateral plasma membrane of segments S1 and S2 of proximal tubules, whereas in S3 no labeling was observed. The labeling density was similar at the basal and lateral plasma membrane and was specifically associated with the inner surface of the membrane consistent with the internal position of the C-terminus of the transporter. In contrast, rkNBC1 was absent from the apical plasma membrane and not observed in intracellular vesicles, including those closely associated with basolateral plasma membrane. In Ambystoma kidney, a weak labeling was present in the basolateral membrane of the proximal tubule and stronger labeling was observed in the late distal segment. The results demonstrate that rkNBC1 is expressed only in segment S1 and segment S2 of rat proximal tubule as well as Ambystoma proximal and late distal tubule and that rkNBC1 is present in both basal and lateral plasma membranes and absent in intracellular vesicles of the apical plasma membrane.

H(+)V-ATPase-dependent luminal acidification in the kidney collecting duct and the epididymis/vas deferens: vesicle recycling and transcytotic pathways

2000 ◽  
Vol 203 (1) ◽  
pp. 137-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Brown ◽  
S. Breton
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
B Cells ◽  
Vas Deferens ◽  
Collecting Duct ◽  
Kidney Cortex ◽  
Apical Plasma Membrane ◽  
Intercalated Cells ◽  
A Cells ◽  
Basolateral Plasma Membrane ◽  
Intracellular Vesicles

Many vertebrate transporting epithelia contain characteristic ‘mitochondria-rich’ cells that express high levels of a vacuolar proton-pumping ATPase (H(+)V-ATPase) on their plasma membrane and on intracellular vesicles. In the kidney cortex, A-cells and B-cells are involved in proton secretion and bicarbonate secretion, respectively, in the distal nephron and collecting duct. A-cells have an H(+)V-ATPase on their apical plasma membrane and on intracellular vesicles, whereas the cellular location of the H(+)V-ATPase can be apical, basolateral, bipolar or diffuse in B-cells. The rat epididymis and vas deferens also contain a distinct population of H(+)V-ATPase-rich epithelial cells. These cells are involved in generating a low luminal pH, which is involved in sperm maturation and in maintaining sperm in an immotile state during their passage through the epididymis and vas deferens. In both kidney and reproductive tract, H(+)V-ATPase-rich cells have a high rate of apical membrane recycling. H(+)V-ATPase molecules are transported between the cell surface and the cytoplasm in vesicles that have a well-defined ‘coat’ structure formed of the peripheral V(1) subunits of the H(+)V-ATPase. In addition, we propose that B-type intercalated cells have a transcytotic pathway that enables them to shuttle H(+)V-ATPase molecules from apical to basolateral plasma membrane domains. This hypothesis is supported by data showing that A-cells and B-cells have different intracellular trafficking pathways for LGP120, a lysosomal glycoprotein. LGP120 was found both on the basolateral plasma membrane and in lysosomes in B-cells, whereas no LGP120 was detectable in the plasma membrane of A-cells. We propose that the ‘polarity reversal’ of the H(+)V-ATPase in B-intercalated cells is mediated by a physiologically regulated transcytotic pathway that may be similar to that existing in some other cell types.

Localization and regulation of PKA-phosphorylated AQP2 in response to V2-receptor agonist/antagonist treatment

2000 ◽  
Vol 278 (1) ◽  
pp. F29-F42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Birgitte Mønster Christensen ◽  
Marina Zelenina ◽  
Anita Aperia ◽  
Søren Nielsen
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Immunoelectron Microscopy ◽  
Collecting Duct ◽  
Rat Kidney ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Apical Plasma Membrane ◽  
Complete Disappearance ◽  
Vasopressin Secretion ◽  
V2 Receptor ◽  
Intracellular Vesicles

Phosphorylation of Ser256, in a PKA consensus site, in AQP2 (p-AQP2) appears to be critically involved in the vasopressin-induced trafficking of AQP2. In the present study, affinity-purified antibodies that selectively recognize AQP2 phosphorylated at Ser256 were developed. These antibodies were used to determine 1) the subcellular localization of p-AQP2 in rat kidney and 2) changes in distribution and/or levels of p-AQP2 in response to [desamino-Cys1,d-Arg8]vasopressin (DDAVP) treatment or V2-receptor blockade. Immunoelectron microscopy revealed that p-AQP2 was localized in both the apical plasma membrane and in intracellular vesicles of collecting duct principal cells. Treatment of rats with V2-receptor antagonist for 30 min resulted in almost complete disappearance of p-AQP2 labeling of the apical plasma membrane with only marginal labeling of intracellular vesicles remaining. Immunoblotting confirmed a marked decrease in p-AQP2 levels. In control Brattleboro rats (BB), lacking vasopressin secretion, p-AQP2 labeling was almost exclusively present in intracellular vesicles. Treatment of BB rats with DDAVP for 2 h induced a 10-fold increase in p-AQP2 labeling of the apical plasma membrane. The overall abundance of p-AQP2, however, was not increased, as determined both by immunoelectron microscopy and immunoblotting. Consistent with this, 2 h of DDAVP treatment of normal rats also resulted in unchanged p-AQP2 levels. Thus the results demonstrate that AQP2 phosphorylated in Ser256 is present in the apical plasma membrane and in intracellular vesicles and that both the intracellular distribution/trafficking, as well as the abundance of p-AQP2, are regulated via V2 receptors by altering phosphorylation and/or dephosphorylation of Ser256in AQP2.

Immunocytochemical localization of Na+ channels in rat kidney medulla

1989 ◽  
Vol 256 (2) ◽  
pp. F366-F369 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Brown ◽  
E. J. Sorscher ◽  
D. A. Ausiello ◽  
D. J. Benos
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Plasma Membranes ◽  
Collecting Duct ◽  
Rat Kidney ◽  
Apical Plasma Membrane ◽  
Na Channel ◽  
Thick Ascending Limb ◽  
Na Channels ◽  
Kidney Medulla ◽  
Principal Cells

Amiloride-sensitive Na+ channels were localized in semithin frozen sections of rat renal medullary collecting ducts, using polyclonal antibodies directed against purified bovine kidney Na+ channel protein. The apical plasma membrane of collecting duct principal cells was heavily stained by indirect immunofluorescence, whereas intercalated cells were negative. Basolateral plasma membranes of both cell types were unstained, as were subapical vesicles in the cytoplasm of these cells. In the thick ascending limb of Henle, some scattered granular fluorescence was seen in the cytoplasm and close to the apical pole of epithelial cells, suggesting the presence of antigenic sites associated with some membrane domains in these cells. No staining was detected in thin limbs of Henle, or in proximal tubules in the outer medulla. These results show that amiloride-sensitive sodium channels are located predominantly on the apical plasma membrane of medullary collecting duct principal cells, the cells that are involved in Na+ homeostasis in this region of the kidney.

scholarly journals Apical endosomes isolated from kidney collecting duct principal cells lack subunits of the proton pumping ATPase.

1992 ◽  
Vol 119 (1) ◽  
pp. 111-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
I Sabolic ◽  
F Wuarin ◽  
L B Shi ◽  
A S Verkman ◽  
D A Ausiello ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Proton Pump ◽  
Transmembrane Domain ◽  
Collecting Duct ◽  
Water Channels ◽  
Proton Pumping ◽  
Apical Plasma Membrane ◽  
Principal Cells ◽  
Kidney Collecting Duct ◽  
Early Endosomes

Endocytic vesicles that are involved in the vasopressin-stimulated recycling of water channels to and from the apical membrane of kidney collecting duct principal cells were isolated from rat renal papilla by differential and Percoll density gradient centrifugation. Fluorescence quenching measurements showed that the isolated vesicles maintained a high, HgCl2-sensitive water permeability, consistent with the presence of vasopressin-sensitive water channels. They did not, however, exhibit ATP-dependent luminal acidification, nor any N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive ATPase activity, properties that are characteristic of most acidic endosomal compartments. Western blotting with specific antibodies showed that the 31- and 70-kD cytoplasmically oriented subunits of the vacuolar proton pump were not detectable in these apical endosomes from the papilla, whereas they were present in endosomes prepared in parallel from the cortex. In contrast, the 56-kD subunit of the proton pump was abundant in papillary endosomes, and was localized at the apical pole of principal cells by immunocytochemistry. Finally, an antibody that recognizes the 16-kD transmembrane subunit of oat tonoplast ATPase cross-reacted with a distinct 16-kD band in cortical endosomes, but no 16-kD band was detectable in endosomes from the papilla. This antibody also recognized a 16-kD band in affinity-purified H+ ATPase preparations from bovine kidney medulla. Therefore, early endosomes derived from the apical plasma membrane of collecting duct principal cells fail to acidify because they lack functionally important subunits of a vacuolar-type proton pumping ATPase, including the 16-kD transmembrane domain that serves as the proton-conducting channel, and the 70-kD cytoplasmic subunit that contains the ATPase catalytic site. This specialized, non-acidic early endosomal compartment appears to be involved primarily in the hormonally induced recycling of water channels to and from the apical plasma membrane of vasopressin-sensitive cells in the kidney collecting duct.

scholarly journals Polarization of gelsolin and actin binding protein in kidney epithelial cells.

1990 ◽  
Vol 38 (8) ◽  
pp. 1145-1153 ◽  
Author(s):  
J H Hartwig ◽  
D Brown ◽  
D A Ausiello ◽  
T P Stossel ◽  
L Orci
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Water Permeability ◽  
Collecting Duct ◽  
Regulatory Proteins ◽  
Actin Binding ◽  
Apical Plasma Membrane ◽  
Actin Binding Protein ◽  
Principal Cells ◽  
Actin Regulatory Proteins

Vasopressin regulates transepithelial osmotic water permeability in the kidney collecting duct and in target cells in other tissues. In the presence of hormone, water channels are inserted into an otherwise impermeable apical plasma membrane and the apical surface of these cells is dramatically remodelled. Because cytochalasin B and D greatly reduce the response of these cells to vasopressin, actin filaments are believed to participate in the events leading to an increase in transepithelial water permeability. Modulation of the actin filamentous network requires the concerted action of specific actin regulatory proteins, and in the present study we used protein A-gold immunocytochemistry to localize two important molecules, gelsolin and actin binding protein (ABP), in epithelial cells of the kidney inner medulla. Gelsolin and, to a lesser extent, ABP were concentrated in clusters in the apical cell web of principal cells of the collecting duct. Aggregates of gold particles were often associated with the cytoplasmic side of plasma membrane regions forming surface extensions or microvilli. The basolateral plasma membrane was labeled to a much lesser extent than the apical plasma membrane. In the thin limbs of Henle, ABP was localized over the apical plasma membrane in ascending limbs, but gelsolin labeling was weak in these cells. In thin descending limbs, the pattern of labeling was completely reversed, with abundant apical gelsolin labeling but only weak ABP immunolabeling. Although the significance of the distribution of actin regulatory proteins in thin limbs is unknown, the abundance and the predominantly apical polarization of both ABP and gelsolin in principal cells of the collecting duct is consistent with a role of the actin cytoskeleton in the mechanism of vasopressin actin.

Antidiuretic hormone moves membranes

1988 ◽  
Vol 255 (3) ◽  
pp. F375-F382 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. S. Handler
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Antidiuretic Hormone ◽  
Water Permeability ◽  
Apical Membrane ◽  
Collecting Duct ◽  
Toad Bladder ◽  
Cell Swelling ◽  
Apical Plasma Membrane ◽  
Principal Cells ◽  
Particle Aggregates

This review focuses on events at the apical plasma membrane of toad urinary bladder and mammalian collecting duct as their permeability to water changes in response to antidiuretic hormone (ADH) and to its withdrawal. The major marker of the permeability change is observed in freeze-fracture electron microscopy of the apical plasma membrane and consists of a dramatic increase in membrane particle aggregates and, in toad bladder but not in collecting duct, in fused vesicles (aggrephores) that contain particle aggregates in their limiting membranes. Withdrawal of ADH is accompanied by endocytosis at the apical membrane, reflecting retrieval of water-permeable, particle aggregate-containing membrane. Covalent labeling of the external surface of the apical membrane of toad bladder identifies specific proteins that are present in the apical membrane only during the response to ADH. Proteins of the same molecular weights are also present in the retrieved membrane when ADH is withdrawn. Several controversial areas are considered, including the extent of cell swelling as water flows across the epithelium from dilute apical solution to isotonic basal solution, whether only principal cells or principal cells and intercalated cells participate in the water permeability response of the collecting duct, the role of the cytoskeleton in the water permeability response, and the proposed second water permeability barrier that is affected by ADH, but not by adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate.

scholarly journals Fluconazole Increases Osmotic Water Transport in Renal Collecting Duct through Effects on Aquaporin-2 Trafficking

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (5) ◽  
pp. 795-810 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanja Vukićević ◽  
Christian Hinze ◽  
Sandrine Baltzer ◽  
Nina Himmerkus ◽  
Catarina Quintanova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Diabetes Insipidus ◽  
Nephrogenic Diabetes Insipidus ◽  
Collecting Duct ◽  
Urinary Output ◽  
Membrane Localization ◽  
Water Reabsorption ◽  
Principal Cells ◽  
Plasma Membrane Localization ◽  
Collecting Ducts

BackgroundArginine-vasopressin (AVP) binding to vasopressin V2 receptors promotes redistribution of the water channel aquaporin-2 (AQP2) from intracellular vesicles into the plasma membrane of renal collecting duct principal cells. This pathway fine-tunes renal water reabsorption and urinary concentration, and its perturbation is associated with diabetes insipidus. Previously, we identified the antimycotic drug fluconazole as a potential modulator of AQP2 localization.MethodsWe assessed the influence of fluconazole on AQP2 localization in vitro and in vivo as well as the drug's effects on AQP2 phosphorylation and RhoA (a small GTPase, which under resting conditions, maintains F-actin to block AQP2-bearing vesicles from reaching the plasma membrane). We also tested fluconazole's effects on water flow across epithelia of isolated mouse collecting ducts and on urine output in mice treated with tolvaptan, a VR2 blocker that causes a nephrogenic diabetes insipidus–like excessive loss of hypotonic urine.ResultsFluconazole increased plasma membrane localization of AQP2 in principal cells independent of AVP. It also led to an increased AQP2 abundance associated with alterations in phosphorylation status and ubiquitination as well as inhibition of RhoA. In isolated mouse collecting ducts, fluconazole increased transepithelial water reabsorption. In mice, fluconazole increased collecting duct AQP2 plasma membrane localization and reduced urinary output. Fluconazole also reduced urinary output in tolvaptan-treated mice.ConclusionsFluconazole promotes collecting duct AQP2 plasma membrane localization in the absence of AVP. Therefore, it might have utility in treating forms of diabetes insipidus (e.g., X-linked nephrogenic diabetes insipidus) in which the kidney responds inappropriately to AVP.

Immunocytochemical and immunoelectron microscopic localization of α-, β-, and γ-ENaC in rat kidney

2001 ◽  
Vol 280 (6) ◽  
pp. F1093-F1106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henrik Hager ◽  
Tae-Hwan Kwon ◽  
Anna K. Vinnikova ◽  
Shyama Masilamani ◽  
Heddwen L. Brooks ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Confocal Microscopy ◽  
Subcellular Localization ◽  
Collecting Duct ◽  
Rat Kidney ◽  
Apical Plasma Membrane ◽  
Cortical Collecting Duct ◽  
Principal Cells ◽  
Medullary Collecting Duct ◽  
Epithelial Sodium Channel Enac

Epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) subunit (α, β, and γ) mRNA and protein have been localized to the principal cells of the connecting tubule (CNT), cortical collecting duct (CCD), and outer medullary collecting duct (OMCD) in rat kidney. However, the subcellular localization of ENaC subunits in the principal cells of these cells is undefined. The cellular and subcellular localization of ENaC subunits in rat kidney was therefore examined. Immunocytochemistry demonstrated the presence of all three subunits in principal cells of the CNT, CCD, OMCD, and IMCD. In cortex and outer medulla, confocal microscopy demonstrated a difference in the subcellular localization of subunits. α-ENaC was localized mainly in a zone in the apical domains, whereas β- and γ-ENaC were found throughout the cytoplasm. Immunoelectron microscopy confirmed the presence of ENaC subunits in both the apical plasma membrane and intracellular vesicles. In contrast to the labeling pattern seen in cortex, α-ENaC labeling in IMCD cells was distributed throughout the cytoplasm. In the urothelium covering pelvis, ureters, and bladder, immunoperoxidase and confocal microscopy revealed differences the presence of all ENaC subunits. As seen in CCD, α-ENaC was present in a narrow zone near the apical plasma membrane, whereas β- and γ-ENaC were dispersed throughout the cytoplasm. In conclusion, all three subunits of ENaC are expressed throughout the collecting duct (CD), including the IMCD as well as in the urothelium. The intracellular vesicular pool in CD principal cells suggests ENaC trafficking as a potential mechanism for the regulation of Na+ reabsorption.

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