Reduced expression of Na-K-2Cl cotransporter in medullary TAL in vitamin D-induced hypercalcemia in rats. (1/175)

Chronic hypercalcemia (HC) is accompanied by urinary concentration defects, and functional studies indicate defects in the thick ascending limb (TAL). We hypothesize that dysregulation of renal sodium transporters may play an important role in this. Vitamin D-induced HC in rats resulted in polyuria, natriuresis, and phosphaturia. Immunoblotting revealed a marked reduction in the abundance of rat type 1 bumetanide-sensitive Na-K-2Cl cotransporter (BSC-1) in inner stripe of the outer medullary (ISOM; 36 +/- 5%) and whole kidney (51 +/- 11%) in HC. Consistent with this finding, immunocytochemistry and immunoelectron microscopy demonstrated reduced BSC-1 labeling of the apical plasma membrane. Immunoblotting and immunohistochemical labeling of the K channel Kir 1.1 (ROMK) was also reduced in HC. In contrast, there were no reductions in the expression of Na/H exchanger (NHE)3 and Na,K-ATPase in ISOM. The abundance of the proximal tubule type II Na-P(i) cotransporter (NaPi-2) (but not Na,K-ATPase and NHE3) was significantly reduced (25 +/- 4%), consistent with a dramatic increase in urinary phosphate excretion. In conclusion, 1) the reduced abundance of BSC-1 and ROMK in TAL is likely to play a major role in the urinary concentration defects associated with HC and 2) the reduced abundance of NaPi-2 is likely to play a role in the increased urinary phosphate excretion.  (+info)

Endogenous vasopressin regulates Na-K-ATPase and Na(+)-K(+)-Cl(-) cotransporter rbsc-1 in rat outer medulla. (2/175)

Previous reports have shown a stimulatory effect of vasopressin (VP) on Na-K-ATPase and rBSC-1 expression and activity. Whether these VP-dependent mechanisms are operating in vivo in physiological conditions as well as in chronic renal failure (CRF) has been less well studied. We measured ATPase expression and activity and rBSC-1 expression in the outer medulla of controls and moderate CRF rats both before and under in vivo inhibition of VP by OPC-31260, a selective V(2)-receptor antagonist. OPC-31260 decreased Na-K-ATPase activity from 11.2 +/- 1.5 to 3.7 +/- 0.8 in controls (P < 0.05) and from 19.0 +/- 0.8 to 2.9 +/- 0.5 micromol P(i). mg protein(-1) x h(-1) in moderate CRF rats (P < 0.05). CRF was associated with a significant increase in Na-K-ATPase activity (P < 0.05). Similarly, CRF was also associated with a significant increase in Na-K-ATPase expression to 164.4 +/- 21.5% compared with controls (P < 0.05), and OPC-31260 decreased Na-K-ATPase expression in both controls and CRF rats to 57.6 +/- 9.5 and 105.3 +/- 10.9%, respectively (P < 0.05). On the other hand, OPC-31260 decreased rBSC-I expression in both controls and CRF rats to 60.8 +/- 6.5 and 30.0 +/- 6.9%, respectively (P < 0.05), and was not influenced by CRF (95.7 +/- 5.2%). We conclude that 1) endogenous VP modulated Na-K-ATPase and rBSC-1 in both controls and CRF; and 2) CRF was associated with increased activity and expression of the Na-K-ATPase in the outer medulla, in contrast to the unaltered expression of the rBSC-1. The data suggest that endogenous VP could participate in the regulation of electrolyte transport at the level of the outer medulla.  (+info)

Losartan treatment normalizes renal sodium and water handling in rats with mild congestive heart failure. (3/175)

This study was designed to examine the effect of losartan treatment on renal tubular function in rats with mild congestive heart failure (CHF) induced by ligation of the left anterior descending artery. In rats with CHF, there was a significant decrease in daily sodium excretion, which caused sodium retention relative to control rats. Renal function studies revealed that glomerular filtration rate and proximal tubular sodium handling were normal. However, expression of the Na(+)-K(+)-2Cl(-) cotransporter (NKCC2) in the thick ascending limb of Henle's loop was increased. Moreover, vasopressin-mediated renal water reabsorption, as evaluated by the aquaretic response to selective V(2)-receptor blockade, was significantly increased. Losartan treatment normalized expression of NKCC2 and decreased expression of the vasopressin-regulated water channel aquaporin-2. This was associated with normalization of daily sodium excretion and normalization of the aquaretic response to V(2)-receptor blockade. Together, these results indicate that, in rats with CHF, losartan treatment inhibits increased sodium reabsorption through NKCC2 in the thick ascending limb of Henle's loop and water reabsorption through aquaporin-2 in the collecting ducts, which may be involved in improving renal function in losartan-treated CHF rats.  (+info)

Spatially distributed alternative splice variants of the renal Na-K-Cl cotransporter exhibit dramatically different affinities for the transported ions. (4/175)

Three splice variants of the renal Na-K-Cl cotransporter (NKCC2 F, A, and B) are spatially distributed along the thick ascending limb of the mammalian kidney. To test whether NKCC2 splice variants differ in ion transport characteristics we expressed cDNAs encoding rabbit NKCC2 F, A, and B in Xenopus oocytes and determined the ion dependence of bumetanide-sensitive (86)Rb influx. The three splice variants of NKCC2 showed dramatic differences in their kinetic behavior. The medullary variant F exhibited 3-4-fold lower affinity than variants A and B for Na(+) and K(+). Chloride affinities also markedly distinguish the three variants (K(m)F = 111.3, K(m)A = 44.7, and K(m)B = 8.9 mm Cl(-)). Thus, the kinetic properties of the NKCC2 splice variants are consistent with the spatial distribution of the variants along the thick ascending limb as they are involved in reabsorbing Na(+), K(+), and Cl(-) from a progressively diluted fluid in the tubule lumen. Variant B also showed an anomalous inhibition of rubidium influx at high extracellular Na(+) concentrations, possibly important in its highly specialized role in the macula densa. The adaptation of the kinetic characteristics of the NKCC2 variants to the luminal concentrations of substrate represents an excellent example of functional specialization and diversity that can be achieved through alternative mRNA splicing.  (+info)

Upregulation of renal BSC1 and TSC in prenatally programmed hypertension. (5/175)

Prenatal factors, especially intrauterine growth retardation, have been shown to correlate with the risk of essential hypertension in adult life, but the mechanisms are unknown. An experimental model of prenatal programming of hypertension in the rat, induced by a maternal low-protein diet during pregnancy, was employed to study the role of renal Na reabsorption in the pathogenesis. The abundance of the apical Na transporter type III Na/H exchanger (NHE3), bumetanide-sensitive Na-K-2Cl cotransporter (BSC1), thiazide-sensitive Na-Cl cotransporter (TSC), and the amiloride-sensitive epithelial Na channel (ENaC) was determined by semiquantitative immunoblotting in kidneys from the offspring at 4 wk of age, before hypertension became manifest. There were no significant differences between the experimental and control rats in the abundance of NHE3 or any of the ENaC subunits. In contrast, the quantity of BSC1 in the experimental group was increased to 302% of control (P < 0.001) and that of TSC to 157% of control (P < 0.05). Determination of specific mRNA levels by ELISA-linked RT-PCR revealed a significantly increased BSC1 mRNA at 1 day (P < 0.01), 4 wk (P < 0.01), and 8 wk (P < 0.001) of age, and a significantly increased TSC mRNA at 4 wk of age (P < 0.05) in the experimental group. The results suggest that prenatal programming of hypertension involves transcriptional upregulation of Na transport in thick ascending limb and distal convoluted tubule.  (+info)

Time course of renal Na-K-ATPase, NHE3, NKCC2, NCC, and ENaC abundance changes with dietary NaCl restriction. (6/175)

We have used peptide-directed antibodies to each major renal Na transporter and channel proteins to screen renal homogenates for changes in Na transporter protein expression after initiation of dietary NaCl restriction. After equilibration on a NaCl-replete diet (2.0 meq. 200 g body wt(-1). day(-1)), rats were switched to a NaCl-deficient diet (0.02 meq. 200 g body wt(-1). day(-1)). Na excretion fell to 25% of baseline levels on day 1, followed by a further decrease <4% of baseline levels on day 3, of NaCl restriction. The decreased Na excretion at day 1 occurred despite the absence of a significant increase in plasma aldosterone level or in the abundance of any of the major renal Na transporters. However, after a 1-day lag, plasma aldosterone levels increased in association with increases in abundances of three aldosterone-regulated Na transporter proteins: the thiazide-sensitive Na-Cl cotransporter (NCC), the alpha-subunit of the amiloride-sensitive epithelial Na channel (alpha-ENaC), and the 70-kDa form of gamma-ENaC. RNase protection assays of transporter mRNA levels revealed an increase in renal alpha-ENaC mRNA coincident with the increase in alpha-ENaC protein abundance. However, there was no change in NCC mRNA abundance, suggesting that the increase in NCC protein in response to dietary NaCl restriction was not a result of altered gene transcription. These results point to early regulatory processes that decrease renal Na excretion without an increase in the abundance of any Na transporter, followed by a late aldosterone-dependent response associated with upregulation of NCC and ENaC.  (+info)

Functional and molecular characterization of the shark renal Na-K-Cl cotransporter: novel aspects. (7/175)

The Na-K-Cl cotransporter isoform 1 (NKCC1) has been isolated from several species, including Squalus acanthias. A second kidney-specific isoform (NKCC2) has been cloned mainly from higher vertebrates. Here, we have isolated the S. acanthias NKCC2 and found that it is produced in at least four spliced variants (saNKCC2A, saNKCC2F, saNKCC2AF, and saNKCC2AFno8) of approximately 1,090 residues. Expression of these transcripts in Xenopus laevis oocytes revealed that only the A and F variants are functional and that they are more active after incubation in low-Cl or hyperosmolar media. Rates of activation after exposure to these media were exceptionally rapid, demonstrating for the first time that the NKCC2 itself represents an important site of regulation by Cl and that extracellular domains are involved. Another remarkable finding in this study was the failure to identify NKCC2B, a variant found in the kidney of higher vertebrates and expressed specifically in macula densa cells. This result, in conjunction with the fact that the shark kidney lacks a well-developed juxtaglomerular apparatus, suggests that the B exon evolved as a result of selective pressure (presumably by exon duplication) and that a restricted relationship exists between NKCC2B and macula densa.  (+info)

Functional comparison of renal Na-K-Cl cotransporters between distant species. (8/175)

In the shark (sa), two variants of the renal Na-K-Cl cotransporter (saNKCC2A and saNKCC2F) are produced by alternative splicing of the second transmembrane domain (tm(2)). In mammals, these splice variants, as well as a third variant (NKCC2B), are spatially distributed along the thick ascending limb of Henle and exhibit divergent kinetic behaviors. To test whether different tm(2) in saNKCC2 are also associated with different kinetic phenotypes, we examined the ion dependence of (86)Rb influx for shark and rabbit splice variants expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes. We found that, in both species, A forms have higher cation affinities than F forms. In regard to Cl affinity, however, the A-F difference was more pronounced in rabbit, and the relationship between transport activity and Cl concentration was not always sigmoidal. These results show that the tm(2) of saNKCC2 is, as in rabbit, important for Cl transport, and they suggest that the ability of the distal NKCC2-expressing segment to extract Cl from the luminal fluid differs among species. We have also found that the renal NKCC2 of distant vertebrates share similar affinities for cations. This finding points to the existence of highly conserved residues that mediate the kinetic behavior of the NKCC2 splice variants.  (+info)