MAPK activation determines renal epithelial cell survival during oxidative injury. (17/518)

Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury induces both functional and morphological changes in the kidney. Necrosis, predominantly of the proximal tubule (PT), is the hallmark of this model of renal injury, whereas cells of the distal nephron survive, apparently intact. We examined whether differences in cellular outcome of the various regions of the nephron may be due to segmental variation in the activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in response to I/R injury. Whereas c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) is activated in both the cortex and inner stripe of the outer medulla, the extracellular regulated kinase (ERK) pathway is activated only in the inner stripe in which thick ascending limb (TAL) cells predominate. These studies are consistent with the notion that ERK activation is essential for survival. To test this hypothesis directly, we studied an in vitro system in which manipulation of these pathways and their effects on cellular survival could be examined. Oxidant injury was induced in mouse PT and TAL cells in culture by the catabolism of hypoxanthine by xanthine oxidase. PT cells were found to be more sensitive than TAL cells to oxidative stress as assessed by cell counting, light microscopy, propidium iodide uptake, and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis. Immunoprecipitation/kinase analysis revealed that JNK activation occurred in both cell types, whereas ERK activation occurred only in TAL cells. We then examined the effect of PD-098059, a MAP kinase kinase (MEK)-1 inhibitor of the ERK pathway, on PT and TAL survival. In TAL cells, ERK inhibition reduced cell survival nearly fourfold (P < 0.001) after oxidant exposure. In PT cells, activation of the ERK pathway by insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) increased survival by threefold (P < 0.001), and this IGF-I-enhanced cell survival was inhibited by PD-098059. These results indicate that cell survival in the kidney after ischemia may be dependent on ERK activation, suggesting that this pathway may be a target for therapeutic treatment in I/R injury.  (+info)

Amino acid fluxes in rat thin limb segments of Henle's loop during in vitro microperfusion. (18/518)

Amino acids are apparently recycled between loops of Henle and vasa recta in the rat papilla in vivo. To examine more closely papillary amino acid transport, we measured transepithelial fluxes of L-[(14)C]alanine and [(14)C]taurine in thin limbs of Henle's loops isolated from rat papilla and perfused in vitro. In descending thin limbs (DTL) in vitro, unidirectional bath-to-lumen fluxes tended to exceed unidirectional lumen-to-bath fluxes for both radiolabeled amino acids, although the difference was statistically significant only for taurine. In ascending thin limbs (ATL) in vitro, unidirectional lumen-to-bath fluxes tended to exceed unidirectional bath-to-lumen fluxes, although the difference was again statistically significant only for taurine. These results are compatible with apparent directional movements of amino acids in vivo. However, none of the unidirectional fluxes was saturable or inhibitable, an observation compatible with apparent reabsorption from the ATL in vivo but not compatible with apparent movement from vasa recta to DTL in vivo. There was no evidence of net active transepithelial transport when concentrations of radiolabeled amino acids were matched on both sides of perfused tubule segments. These data suggest that regulation of amino acid movement in vivo may involve the vasa recta, not the DTL of Henle's loops. The data also suggest that transepithelial movement of amino acids in thin limbs of Henle's loop may occur via a paracellular route.  (+info)

Cyclooxygenase inhibitors increase Na-K-2Cl cotransporter abundance in thick ascending limb of Henle's loop. (19/518)

Cyclooxygenase inhibitors, such as indomethacin and diclofenac, have well-described effects to enhance renal water reabsorption and urinary concentrating ability. Concentrating ability is regulated in part at the level of the thick ascending limb of Henle's loop, where active NaCl absorption drives the countercurrent multiplication mechanism. We used semiquantitative immunoblotting to test the effects of indomethacin and diclofenac, given over a 48-h period, on the expression levels of the ion transporters responsible for active NaCl transport in the thick ascending limb. Both agents strongly increased the expression level of the apical Na-K-2Cl cotransporter in both outer medulla and cortex. Neither agent significantly altered outer medullary expression levels of other thick ascending limb proteins, namely, the type 3 Na/H exchanger (NHE-3), Tamm-Horsfall protein, or alpha1- or beta1-subunits of the Na-K-ATPase. Administration of the EP3-selective PGE(2) analog, misoprostol, to indomethacin-treated rats reversed the stimulatory effect of indomethacin on Na-K-2Cl cotransporter expression. We conclude that cyclooxygenase inhibitors enhance urinary concentrating ability in part through effects to increase Na-K-2Cl cotransporter expression in the thick ascending limb of Henle's loop. This action is most likely due to elimination of an EP3-receptor-mediated tonic inhibitory effect of PGE(2) on cAMP production.  (+info)

Decreased renal Na-K-2Cl cotransporter abundance in mice with heterozygous disruption of the G(s)alpha gene. (20/518)

Transport processes along the nephron are regulated in part by hormone stimulation of adenylyl cyclases mediated by the heterotrimeric G protein G(s). To assess the role of this pathway in the regulation of Na-K-2Cl cotransporter abundance in the renal thick ascending limb (TAL), we studied mice with heterozygous disruption of the Gnas gene, which codes for the alpha-subunit of G(s). Outer medullary G(s)alpha protein abundance (as assessed by semiquantitative immunoblotting) and glucagon-stimulated cAMP production were significantly reduced in the heterozygous G(s)alpha knockout mice (GSKO) relative to their wild-type (WT) littermates. Furthermore, Na-K-2Cl cotransporter protein abundance in the outer medulla was significantly reduced (band density, 48% of WT). In addition, GSKO mice had a significantly reduced (72% of WT) urinary osmolality in response to a single injection of 1-deamino-[8-D-arginine]vasopressin (DDAVP), a vasopressin analog. In contrast, outer medullary protein expression of the type 3 Na/H exchanger (NHE-3) or Tamm-Horsfall protein did not differ between the GSKO mice and their WT littermates. However, abundance of type VI adenylyl cyclase was markedly decreased in the outer medullas of GSKO mice, suggesting a novel feed-forward regulatory mechanism. We conclude that expression of the Na-K-2Cl cotransporter of the TAL is dependent on G(s)alpha-mediated hormone stimulation, most likely due to long-term changes in cellular cAMP levels.  (+info)

Eukaliuric diuresis and natriuresis in response to the KATP channel blocker U37883A: micropuncture studies on the tubular site of action. (21/518)

1. Systemic application of U37883A, a blocker of ATP sensitive potassium (KATP) channels, elicits diuresis and natriuresis without significantly altering urinary potassium excretion. 2. To elucidate tubular sites of action upstream to the distal nephron, micropuncture experiments were performed in nephrons with superficial glomeruli of anaesthetized Munich-Wistar-Fromter rats during systemic application of U37883A (1, 5 or 15 mg kg-1 i.v.). 3. The observed eukaliuric diuresis and natriuresis in response to U37883A at 15 mg kg-1 was accompanied by an increase in early distal tubular flow rate (VED) from 10 - 18 nl min(-1) reflecting a reduction in fractional reabsorption of fluid up to this site (FR-fluid) of 13%. The latter proposed an effect on water-permeable segments such as the proximal tubule which could fully account for the observed reduction in fractional reabsorption of Na+ up to the early distal tubule (FR-Na+) of 8% and the increase in early distal tubular Na+ concentration ([Na+]ED) from 35 - 51 mM whereas [K+]ED was left unaltered. 4. In comparison, furosemide (3 mg kg-1 i.v.), which acts in the water-impermeable thick ascending limb, elicited diuresis, natriuresis and kaliuresis which were associated with a fall in FR-Na+ of 10% with no change in FR-fluid, and a rise in [Na+]ED from 42 - 117 mM and [K+]ED from 1.2 - 5.7 mM with no change in VED. 5. Direct late proximal tubular fluid collections confirmed a significant inhibition of fluid reabsorption in proximal convoluted tubule in response to systemic application of U37883A. 6. These findings suggest that the diuretic and natriuretic effect upstream to the distal tubule in response to systemic application of U37883A involves actions on water-permeable segments such as the proximal convoluted tubule.  (+info)

Cyclooxygenase-2 expression and function in the medullary thick ascending limb. (22/518)

The medullary thick ascending limb (MTAL) metabolizes arachidonic acid (AA) via cytochrome P-450 (CyP450)- and cyclooxygenase (COX)-dependent pathways. In the present study, we demonstrated that the COX-2-selective inhibitor, NS-398, prevented tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF)- and phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-mediated increases in PGE(2) production by cultured MTAL cells. Accumulation of COX-2, but not COX-1, mRNA increased when cells were challenged with TNF (1 nM) or PMA (1 microM). Pretreatment of cells for 30 min with actinomycin D (AcD, 1 microM) had little effect on COX-2 mRNA accumulation in unstimulated cells or in cells challenged with either TNF or PMA. Moreover, a posttranscriptional mechanism(s) appears to contribute significantly to COX-2 mRNA accumulation as pretreatment for 15 min with cycloheximide (CHX, 1 microM) caused a superinduction of COX-2 mRNA accumulation in unstimulated cells as well as in cells challenged with either TNF or PMA. Expression of COX-2 protein in unstimulated MTAL cells was attenuated by preincubation for 2 h with dexamethasone (Dex, 2 microM); however, Dex had little or no effect on COX-2 expression in cells challenged with either PMA or TNF. The time-dependent inhibition of 86Rb uptake by MTAL cells challenged with TNF was diminished by pretreating cells with NS-398. These data suggest that TNF-mediated induction of COX-2 protein expression accounted for the lag-time required for this cytokine to inhibit 86Rb uptake in MTAL cells.  (+info)

Nitric oxide inhibits sodium/hydrogen exchange activity in the thick ascending limb. (23/518)

Nitric oxide (NO) inhibits transport in various nephron segments, and the thick ascending limb (TAL) expresses nitric oxide synthase (NOS). However, the effects of NO on TAL transport have not been extensively studied. We tested the hypothesis that NO inhibits apical and basolateral Na(+)/H(+) exchange by the TAL by measuring intracellular pH (pH(i)) of isolated, perfused rat TALs using the fluorescent dye 2',7'-bis-(2-carboxyethyl)-5-(and-6)-carboxyfluorescein (BCECF). The NO donor spermine NONOate (SPM, 10 microM) decreased steady-state pHi in medullary TALs from 7.18 +/- 0.13 to 7.13 +/- 0.14 (P < 0.02), whereas controls did not decrease significantly. We next measured the buffering capacity of medullary TALs and the rate at which they recovered from acid loads to investigate the mechanism whereby NO reduces steady-state pHi. SPM decreased H+ flux (JH) from 2.41 +/- 0.66 to 0.97 +/- 0.19 pmol. min(-1). mm(-1), 55%. To assure that the decrease in JH was due to NO, another donor, nitroglycerin (NTG; 10 microM), was used. NTG decreased J(H) from 1.65 +/- 0.11 to 1.07 +/- 0.24 pmol. min(-1). mm(-1), 37%. To determine the relative contributions of the apical and basolateral Na+/H+ exchangers, 5-(N,N-dimethyl)amiloride (DMA; 100 microM) was added to either bath or lumen. With DMA added to the bath, SPM decreased J(H) from 4.78 +/- 1.08 to 2.74 +/- 0.54 pmol. min(-1). mm(-1), an inhibition of 41%; and with DMA added to the lumen, SPM decreased J(H) from 2.31 +/- 0.29 to 1.74 +/- 0.27 pmol. min(-1). mm(-1), a reduction of 26%. Addition of DMA alone to both bath and lumen resulted in an 87% inhibition of JH. We conclude that NO inhibits both apical and basolateral Na+/H+ exchangers and consequently may play an important role in regulating pHi and may alter acid/base balance by directly affecting bicarbonate absorption in the TAL.  (+info)

Cytosolic [Ca2+] signaling pathway in macula densa cells. (24/518)

Previous micropuncture studies suggested that macula densa (MD) cells might detect variations in luminal sodium chloride concentration ([NaCl]l) through changes in cytosolic calcium ([Ca2+]c). To test this hypothesis, MD [Ca2+]c was measured with fluorescence microscopy using fura 2 in the isolated perfused thick ascending limb with attached glomerulus preparation dissected from rabbit kidney. Tubules were bathed and perfused with a Ringer solution, [NaCl]l was varied and isosmotically replaced with N-methyl-D-glucamine cyclamate. Control [Ca2+]c, during perfusion with 25 mM NaCl and 150 mM NaCl in the bath, averaged 101. 6 +/- 8.2 nM (n = 21). Increasing [NaCl]l to 150 mM elevated [Ca2+]c by 39.1 +/- 5.2 nM (n = 21, P < 0.01). This effect was concentration dependent between zero and 60 mM [NaCl]l. The presence of either luminal furosemide or basolateral nifedipine or 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino)benzoic acid (NPPB), a potent Cl- channel blocker, significantly reduced resting [Ca2+]c and abolished the increase in [Ca2+]c in response to increased [NaCl]l. Nifedipine failed to produce a similar inhibitory effect when added exclusively to the luminal perfusate. Also, 100 nM BAY K 8644, a voltage-gated Ca2+ channel agonist, added to the bathing solution increased [Ca2+]c by 33.2 +/- 8.1 nM (n = 5, P < 0.05). These observations suggest that MD cells may detect variations in [NaCl]l through a signaling pathway that includes Na+-2Cl--K+ cotransport, basolateral membrane depolarization via Cl- channels, and Ca2+ entry through voltage-gated Ca2+ channels.  (+info)