Mutagenic Mapping of the Na-K-Cl Cotransporter for Domains Involved in Ion Transport and Bumetanide Binding

The human and shark Na-K-Cl cotransporters (NKCCs) are 74% identical in amino acid sequence yet they display marked differences in apparent affinities for the ions and bumetanide. In this study, we have used chimeras and point mutations to determine which transmembrane domains (tm's) are responsible for the differences in ion transport and in inhibitor binding kinetics. When expressed in HEK-293 cells, all the mutants carry out bumetanide-sensitive 86Rb influx. The kinetic behavior of these constructs demonstrates that the first seven tm's contain all of the residues conferring affinity differences. In conjunction with our previous finding that tm 2 plays an important role in cation transport, the present observations implicate the fourth and seventh tm helices in anion transport. Thus, it appears that tm's 2, 4, and 7 contain the essential affinity-modifying residues accounting for the human–shark differences with regard to cation and anion transport. Point mutations have narrowed the list of candidates to 13 residues within the three tm's. The affinity for bumetanide was found to be affected by residues in the same tm 2–7 region, and also by residues in tm's 11 and 12. Unlike for the ions, changes in bumetanide affinity were nonlinear and difficult to interpret: the Ki(bumetanide) of a number of the constructs was outside the range of sNKCC1 and hNKCC1 Kis.

Cell volume in vascular smooth muscle is regulated by bumetanide-sensitive ion transport

Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) exhibit shrinkage-induced bumetanide-inhibited 86Rb influx and ethylisopropylamiloride (EIPA)-inhibited 22Na influx. In this study, we examined the role of these transport pathways in volume adjustment of VSMC after isosmotic and hyperosmotic shrinkage. Cell volume was assessed by measurement of [14C]urea distribution. An initial 18-20% cell volume decrease in isosmotically shrunken VSMC was followed by a regulatory volume increase (RVI). RVI was completely abolished by bumetanide but not by EIPA. No RVI was noted in hyperosmotically shrunken VSMC. The initial rate of bumetanide-inhibited 86Rb influx was two- to threefold higher in isosmotically shrunken VSMC than with hyperosmotic shrinkage. Hyperosmotic shrinkage of VSMC was accompanied by a three- to fourfold increase in the rate of bumetanide-inhibited 86Rb efflux, whereas isosmotic shrinkage augmented this component by only 20-30%. In contrast to bumetanide-inhibited 86Rb influx, isosmotic shrinkage slightly increased the rate of EIPA-sensitive 22Na influx. Hyperosmotic shrinkage led to transient activation of EIPA-inhibited 22Na influx, which was completely abolished in 15 min. Activation of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) signaling with isoproterenol arborized VSMC and decreased their volume by approximately 15%. A similar volume decrease was seen in VSMC treated with the microfilament-disrupting compound, cytochalasin B. The isoproterenol-induced cell volume decrease was prolonged by the addition of bumetanide. Unlike isoproterenol, agents that raise intracellular Ca2+ (A-23187 and angiotensin II) did not modify VSMC volume. Thus our data demonstrate involvement of cAMP signaling in the regulating of VSMC volume and a key role of bumetanide-inhibited ion transport in the RVI after isosmotically induced shrinkage.

Increased Inward Passive Permeability in Vitro to Sodium in Uraemic Erythrocytes

1. We have reported a normal sodium (Na) pump, but decreased loop-diuretic-sensitive Na efflux in erythrocytes from patients with chronic renal failure on haemodialysis, suggesting a different mode of co-transport in uraemia. 2. The present work extends these findings and examines in vitro simultaneous unidirectional and radiolabelled Na and K fluxes through the Na/K/Cl co-transport and the Na/K pump in washed erythrocytes from seven subjects with chronic renal failure and seven controls. Erythrocyte cytosolic calcium was also examined. 3. Ouabain-sensitive 86Rb influx was similar in patients and controls (1.76 ± 0.19 versus 1.72 ± 0.13 mmol h−1 litre−1 of erythrocytes) as was ouabain-sensitive 22Na efflux (3.62 ± 0.36 versus 4.04 ± 0.39 mmol h−1 litre−1 of erythrocytes). 4. Bumetanide-sensitive 86Rb and 22Na influx and 22Na efflux were measured at three concentrations (4, 8 and 12 mmol/l) of external K. In chronic renal failure, mean bumetanide-sensitive 22Na efflux was decreased at all external K concentrations compared with controls, and at physiological concentrations (4 mmol/l) external K was lower than controls (0.14 ± 0.01 versus 0.38 ± 0.05 mmol h−1 litre−1 of erythrocytes, P < 0.01). Mean bumetanide-sensitive 86Rb influx was also reduced in chronic renal failure at all external K concentrations, and at 4 mmol/l external K was lower than controls (0.13 ± 0.04 versus 0.34 ± 0.04 mmol h−1 litre−1 of erythrocytes, P < 0.01). Conversely, bumetanide-sensitive 22Na influx was markedly increased at all external K levels in chronic renal failure, and at 4 mmol/l external K values were elevated compared with controls (0.64 ± 0.18 versus 0.34 ± 0.04 mmol h−1 litre−1 of erythrocytes, P < 0.001). The mean cytosolic calcium concentration was higher in erythrocytes in chronic renal failure than controls (134.4 ± 8.6 versus 63.7 ± 5.8 nmol/l, P < 0.001). 5. Thus, in washed erythrocytes incubated in artificial media there is a markedly increased ouabain-insensitive Na influx in subjects with chronic renal failure which might be explained in part by the higher levels of cytosolic calcium. In vivo, this cell defect combined with suppression of the Na/K pump could lead to intracellular Na accumulation and play a role in uraemic complications.

Na+, K+, and Cl- transport in resting pancreatic acinar cells.

To understand the role of Na+, K+, and Cl- transporters in fluid and electrolyte secretion by pancreatic acinar cells, we studied the relationship between them in resting and stimulated cells. Measurements of [Cl-]i in resting cells showed that in HCO3(-)-buffered medium [Cl-]i and Cl- fluxes are dominated by the Cl-/HCO3- exchanger. In the absence of HCO3-, [Cl-]i is regulated by NaCl and NaK2Cl cotransport systems. Measurements of [Na+]i showed that the Na(+)-coupled Cl- transporters contributed to the regulation of [Na+]i, but the major Na+ influx pathway in resting pancreatic acinar cells is the Na+/H+ exchanger. 86Rb influx measurements revealed that &gt; 95% of K+ influx is mediated by the Na+ pump and the NaK2Cl cotransporter. In resting cells, the two transporters appear to be coupled through [K+]i in that inhibition of either transporter had small effect on 86Rb uptake, but inhibition of both transporters largely prevented 86Rb uptake. Another form of coupling occurs between the Na+ influx transporters and the Na+ pump. Thus, inhibition of NaK2Cl cotransport increased Na+ influx by the Na+/H+ exchanger to fuel the Na+ pump. Similarly, inhibition of Na+/H+ exchange increased the activity of the NaK2Cl cotransporter. The combined measurements of [Na+]i and 86Rb influx indicate that the Na+/H+ exchanger contributes twice more than the NaK2Cl cotransporter and three times more than the NaCl cotransporter and a tetraethylammonium-sensitive channel to Na+ influx in resting cells. These findings were used to develop a model for the relationship between the transporters in resting pancreatic acinar cells.

Effect of Extracellular Potassium Concentration on the Sodium-Potassium Pump Rate in Human Lymphocytes

1. The purpose of this study was to determine whether physiological changes in extracellular free [K+] cause significant changes in the Na+-K+ pump rate and intracellular free [Na+]. 2. The Na+-K+ pump rate was measured in human lymphocytes by determining ouabain-sensitive 86Rb+ influx at several concentrations of K+. The Na+-K+ pump rate increased within the physiological range of extracellular free [K+] (K1/2 = 1.5 mmol/l). 3. To test the hypothesis that elevation of extracellular free [K+] reduces intracellular free [Na+] rapidly, which in turn then slows the pump rate during experimental incubations, lymphocyte intracellular free [Na+] was measured using the fluorochrome sodium-binding benzofuran isophthalate. With larger elevations of extracellular free [K+], intracellular free [Na+] dropped more rapidly. Thus previous discrepancies among determinations of K1/2 may be the result of variations in incubation times, which can skew the pump rates measured during incubations in various extracellular free [K+] values. Steady-state intracellular free [Na+] varied inversely with extracellular free [K+].

Impaired cation transport in thymocytes of rats with chronic uremia includes the Na+/H+ antiporter.

To examine how uremia changes sodium, potassium, and proton transport, thymocytes from chronic renal failure (CRF) rats were studied. If alterations in cation transport associated with chronic uremia (CRF) extend to intracellular pH regulation, the susceptibility to the catabolic effects of acidosis might be increased. To evaluate the influence of acidosis, cation transport in thymocytes from normal rats with NH4Cl-induced acidosis was also studied. Ouabain-sensitive 86Rb influx in thymocytes from acidotic CRF rats was 32% lower than in control cells (P < 0.05), but intracellular sodium concentration was unchanged. This may be related to a 47 +/- 22% reduction in 22Na influx. In thymocytes from nonuremic, acidotic rats, ouabain-sensitive 86Rb influx was decreased 39% (P < 0.025), similar to the change in CRF. In CRF thymocytes, Na(+)-H+ antiporter activity in response to cell acidification (7.13 +/- 0.8 versus 9.42 +/- 0.8 mmol of H+/L per min; CRF versus control), or to osmotic shrinkage (0.43 +/- 0.09 versus 0.82 +/- 0.11 mmol of H+/L per min; CRF versus control), was significantly (P < 0.01) reduced. Buffering capacity at resting and acidic intracellular pH was unchanged by uremia, but Na+/H+ antiporter activity in response to acid loading or osmotic shrinkage was unchanged in thymocytes of nonuremic rats with metabolic acidosis. Thus, CRF reduces both Na/K-ATPase and Na+/H+ antiporter activities in rat thymocytes. The former may be secondary to reduced sodium influx. Impaired Na+/H+ antiporter activity is not caused by metabolic acidosis alone, whereas reduced Na/K-ATPase activity is found in both acidosis and uremia.

Unidirectional sodium and potassium flux in myogenic L6 cells: mechanisms and volume-dependent regulation

To clarify the relative participation of particular ion transport systems in net univalent cation fluxes under basal conditions and altered volume of skeletal muscle-derived cells, the effect of inhibitors of the Na(+)-K+ pump (ouabain), univalent ion cotransporters [bumetanide, furosemide, and (dihydroindenyl)oxy alkanoic acid], and N+/H+ exchanger (ethylisopropylamiloride) on 86Rb and 22Na fluxes has been studied in L6 myoblasts incubated in isosmotic (320 mosmol/kg) and anisosmotic media. Under the isosmotic condition, the relative contribution of ouabain-inhibited and ouabain-insensitive bumetanide-inhibited component of 86Rb influx was approximately 15–20 and 60%, respectively. 22Na influx was inhibited by bumetanide and ethylisopropylamiloride by 25 and 15%, respectively. Under isosmotic conditions, an increase of L6 cell volume was observed after addition of extracellular acetylcholine, extracellular K(+)-induced depolarization, or lowering of the pH of the incubation medium. High extracellular glutathione (150 microM) did not affect the cell volume of the muscle-derived cells bathed in isosmotic medium. Results of this study suggest that the bumetanide-inhibited component of K+ influx plays a key role in the adjustment of transmembrane K+ gradient in L6 myoblasts. The Na+/H+ exchanger appears to be important in regulatory volume increase.