Epithelial sodium channel in human epidermal keratinocytes: expression of its subunits and relation to sodium transport and differentiation

Epithelial sodium channel/degenerin family of ion channels: a variety of functions for a shared structure

The recently discovered epithelial sodium channel (ENaC)/degenerin (DEG) gene family encodes sodium channels involved in various cell functions in metazoans. Subfamilies found in invertebrates or mammals are functionally distinct. The degenerins in Caenorhabditis elegans participate in mechanotransduction in neuronal cells, FaNaC in snails is a ligand-gated channel activated by neuropeptides, and the Drosophila subfamily is expressed in gonads and neurons. In mammals, ENaC mediates Na+ transport in epithelia and is essential for sodium homeostasis. The ASIC genes encode proton-gated cation channels in both the central and peripheral nervous system that could be involved in pain transduction. This review summarizes the physiological roles of the different channels belonging to this family, their biophysical and pharmacological characteristics, and the emerging knowledge of their molecular structure. Although functionally different, the ENaC/DEG family members share functional domains that are involved in the control of channel activity and in the formation of the pore. The functional heterogeneity among the members of the ENaC/DEG channel family provides a unique opportunity to address the molecular basis of basic channel functions such as activation by ligands, mechanotransduction, ionic selectivity, or block by pharmacological ligands.

Epithelial sodium channel and the control of sodium balance: interaction between genetic and environmental factors

The epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) expressed in aldosterone-responsive epithelial cells of the kidney and colon plays a critical role in the control of sodium balance, blood volume, and blood pressure. In lung, ENaC has a distinct role in controlling the ionic composition of the air-liquid interface and thus the rate of mucociliary transport. Loss-of-function mutations in ENaC cause a severe salt-wasting syndrome in human pseudohypoaldosteronism type 1 (PHA-1). Gain-of-function mutations in ENaC beta and gamma subunits cause pseudoaldosteronism (Liddle's syndrome), a severe form of salt-sensitive hypertension. This review discusses genetically defined forms of a salt sensitivity and salt resistance in human monogenic diseases and in animal models mimicking PHA-1 or Liddle's syndrome. The complex interaction between genetic factors (ENaC mutations) and the risk factor (salt intake) can now be studied experimentally. The role of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in determining salt sensitivity or salt resistance in general populations is one of the main challenges of the post-genomic era.

The ENaC channel is required for normal epidermal differentiation

Ionic fluxes are important for critical aspects of keratinocyte differentiation, including synthesis of differentiation-specific proteins, enzymatic catalysis of protein cross-linking, post-transcriptional processing of profilaggrin, and lipid secretion. The epithelial sodium channel is expressed in epidermis and the expression of its alpha and beta subunits is enhanced as keratinocytes differentiate. In order to ascertain the role of the epithelial sodium channel in epidermal differentiation, we examined skin of mice in which the epithelial sodium channel alpha subunit had been deleted. Newborn -/- mice, in which the alpha subunit had been completely inactivated, demonstrated epithelial hyperplasia, abnormal nuclei, premature secretion of lipids, and abnormal keratohyaline granules. In addition, immunohistochemistry demonstrated that expression of the differentiation markers K1, K6, and involucrin were abnormal. These data suggest that the epithelial sodium channel modulates ionic signaling for specific aspects of epidermal differentiation, such as synthesis or processing of differentiation- specific proteins, and lipid secretion.

The epithelial Na+ channel: cell surface insertion and retrieval in Na+ homeostasis and hypertension

The epithelial Na+ channel (ENaC) forms the pathway for Na+ absorption in the kidney collecting duct and other epithelia. Dominant gain-of-function mutations cause Liddle's syndrome, an inherited form of hypertension resulting from excessive renal Na+ absorption. Conversely, loss-of-function mutations cause pseudohypoaldosteronism type I, a disorder of salt wasting and hypotension. Thus, ENaC has a critical role in the maintenance of Na+ homeostasis and blood pressure control. Altered Na+ absorption in the lung may also contribute to the pathogenesis of cystic fibrosis. Epithelial Na+ absorption is regulated in large part by mechanisms that control the expression of ENaC at the cell surface. Nedd4, a ubiquitin protein ligase, binds to ENaC and targets the channel for endocytosis and degradation. Liddle's syndrome mutations disrupt the interaction between ENaC and Nedd4, resulting in an increase in the number of ENaC channels at the cell surface. Aldosterone and vasopressin also regulate Na+ absorption to defend against hypotension and hypovolemia. Both hormones increase the expression of ENaC at the cell surface. The goal of this review is to summarize recent data on the regulation of ENaC expression at the cell surface.

Location and function of the epithelial Na channel in the cochlea

In the cochlea, endolymph is a K-rich and Na-poor fluid. The purpose of the present study was to check the presence and to assess the role of epithelial Na channel (ENaC) in this organ. alpha-, beta-, and gamma-ENaC subunit mRNA, and proteins were detected in rat cochlea by RT-PCR and Western blot. alpha-ENaC subunit mRNA was localized by in situ hybridization in both epithelial (stria vascularis, spiral prominence, spiral limbus) and nonepithelial structures (spiral ligament, spiral ganglion). The alpha-ENaC-positive tissues were also positive for beta-subunit mRNA (except spiral ganglion) or for gamma-subunit mRNA (spiral limbus, spiral ligament, and spiral ganglion), but the signals of beta- and gamma-subunits were weaker than those observed for alpha-subunit. In vivo, the endocochlear potential was recorded in guinea pigs under normoxic and hypoxic conditions after endolymphatic perfusion of ENaC inhibitors (amiloride, benzamil) dissolved either in K-rich or Na-rich solutions. ENaC inhibitors altered the endocochlear potential when Na-rich but not when K-rich solutions were perfused. In conclusion, ENaC subunits are expressed in epithelial and nonepithelial cochlear structures. One of its functions is probably to maintain the low concentration of Na in endolymph.

Scnn1Sodium Channel Gene Family in Genetically Engineered Mice

Abstract.The amiloride-sensitive epithelial sodium channel is the limiting step in salt absorption. In mice, this channel is composed of three subunits (α, β, and γ), which are encoded by different genes (Scnn1a, Scnn1b, andScnn1c, respectively). The functions of these genes were recently investigated in transgenic (knockout) experiments, and the absence of any subunit led to perinatal lethality. More defined phenotypes have been obtained by introducing specific mutations or using transgenic rescue experiments. In this report, these approaches are summarized and a current gene-targeting strategy to obtain conditional inactivation of the channel is illustrated. This latter approach will be indispensable for the investigation of channel function in a wide variety of organ systems.