Molecular characterization of rabbit renal epithelial calcium channel

Hypoxic Rise in Cytosolic Calcium and Renal Proximal Tubule Injury Mediated by a Nickel-Sensitive Pathway

In the kidney, cell injury resulting from ischemia and hypoxia is thought to be due, in part, to increased cytosolic Ca2+ levels, [Ca2+]i, leading to activation of lytic enzymes, cell dysfunction, and necrosis. We report evidence of a progressive and exponential increase in [Ca2+]i (from 245 ± 10 to 975 ± 100 nM at 45 mins), cell permeabilization and propidium iodide (PI) staining of the nucleus, and partial loss of cell transport functions such as Na+-gradient–dependent uptakes of 14C-alpha-methyiglucopyranoside and inorganic phosphate (32Pi) in proximal convoluted tubules of adult rabbits subjected to hypoxia. The rise in [Ca2+]i depended on the presence of extracellular [Ca2+] and could be blocked by 50 μM Ni2+ but not by verapamil (100 μM). Presence of 50 μM Ni2+ also reduced the hypoxia-induced morphological and functional injuries. We also used HEK 293 cells, a kidney cell line, incubated in media without glucose and exposed for 3.5 hrs to 1% O2–5% CO2 and then returned to glucose-containing media for another 3.5 hrs in an air–5% CO2 atmosphere and finally exposed for 1 min to media containing 1 μM Pl. NiCl2 (50 μM) or pentobarbital (300 μM) more than phenobarbital (1.5 mM), when present in the incubation medium during both the hypoxic and the reoxygenation periods, induced significant (P < 0.001) reductions in the number of cell nuclei stained with Pl, similar to their relative potency as inhibitors of T channels. Our findings indicate that hypoxia-induced alterations in calcium level and subsequent cell injury in the proximal convoluted tubule and in HEK cells involve a nickel-sensitive and dihydropyridine insensitive pathway or channel.

Calcium channel inhibition accelerates polycystic kidney disease progression in the Cy/+ rat

In polycystic kidney disease, abnormal epithelial cell proliferation is the main factor leading to cyst formation and kidney enlargement. Cyclic AMP (cAMP) is mitogenic in cystic but antimitogenic in normal human kidney cells, which is due to reduced steady-state intracellular calcium levels in cystic compared to the normal cells. Inhibition of intracellular calcium entry with channel blockers, such as verapamil, induced cAMP-dependent cell proliferation in normal renal cells. To determine if calcium channel blockers have a similar effect on cell proliferation in vivo, Cy/+ rats, a model of dominant polycystic kidney disease, were treated with verapamil. Kidney weight and cyst index were elevated in verapamil-treated Cy/+ rats. This was associated with increased cell proliferation and apoptosis, elevated expression, and phosphorylation of B-Raf with stimulation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase MEK/ERK (mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase/extracellular-regulated kinase) pathway. Verapamil had no effect on kidney morphology or B-Raf stimulation in wild-type rats. We conclude that treatment of Cy/+ rats with calcium channel blockers increases activity of the B-Raf/MEK/ERK pathway accelerating cyst growth in the presence of endogenous cAMP, thus exacerbating renal cystic disease.

Dihydropyridine Receptors Are Selective Markers of Th2 Cells and Can Be Targeted to Prevent Th2-Dependent Immunopathological Disorders

Th1 cells that produce IFN-gamma are essential in the elimination of intracellular pathogens, and Th2 cells that synthetize IL-4 control the eradication of helminths. However, highly polarized Th1 or Th2 responses may be harmful and even lethal. Thus, the development of strategies to selectively down-modulate Th1 or Th2 responses is of therapeutic importance. Herein, we demonstrate that dihydropyridine receptors (DHPR) are expressed on Th2 and not on Th1 murine cells. By using selective agonists and antagonists of DHPR, we show that DHPR are involved in TCR-dependent calcium response in Th2 cells as well as in IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10 synthesis. Nicardipine, an inhibitor of DHPR, is beneficial in experimental models of Th2-dependent pathologies in rats. It strongly inhibits the Th2-mediated autoimmune glomerulonephritis induced by injecting Brown Norway (BN) rats with heavy metals. This drug also prevents the chronic graft vs host reaction induced by injecting CD4(+) T cells from BN rats into (LEW x BN)F(1) hybrids. By contrast, treatment with nicardipine has no effect on the Th1-dependent experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis triggered in LEW rats immunized with myelin. These data indicate that 1) DHPR are a selective marker of Th2 cells, 2) these calcium channels contribute to calcium signaling in Th2 cells, and 3) blockers of these channels are beneficial in the treatment of Th2-mediated pathologies.

Tubular and cellular localization of the cardiac L-type calcium channel in rat kidney

BACKGROUND

The mRNAs of several types of calcium channels have been identified in intact rat kidney, and L-type calcium channels cause changes in intracellular calcium in primary cultures of distal tubule cells. The aim of this study was to evaluate the tubular and cellular distribution of the alpha1C subunit of the L-type calcium channel in intact kidney.

METHODS

RT-PCR and Northern blot analysis were used to assess the regional abundance of the mRNA of this channel. Immunocytochemistry combined with confocal microscopy and surface biotinylation were applied to determine the tubular and cellular localization of the protein.

RESULTS

Northern blot and RT-PCR analysis indicated that the mRNA of the alpha1C subunit of the cardiac L-type calcium channel was present in whole rat kidney, kidney tubules and kidney cell lines. Western blot of lysates from whole kidney, kidney tubules or cell lines revealed bands of approximately 190 kD for the alpha1C subunit and approximately 60 kD for the beta3 subunit. Confocal immunohistochemistry indicated that the alpha1C subunit of this channel was co-expressed in cells of the distal tubule that express calbindin-D28K, but not in intercalated cells. The alpha1C subunit was also highly expressed in both outer and inner medullary collecting ducts. Serial confocal microscopic images or surface biotinylation experiments determined that the channel was predominantly on the basolateral membrane but had some distribution on the apical membrane.

CONCLUSIONS

The distribution and cellular localization of the alpha1C subunit of cardiac L-type calcium channel suggest it is probably involved in intracellular and membrane calcium signaling.