Intracellular sorbitol content in isolated rat inner medullary collecting duct cells. Regulation by extracellular osmolarity

Roles of basolateral solute uptake via NKCC1 and of myosin II in vasopressin-induced cell swelling in inner medullary collecting duct

Collecting duct cells swell when exposed to arginine vasopressin (AVP) in the presence of a transepithelial osmolality gradient. We investigated the mechanisms of AVP-induced cell swelling in isolated, perfused rat inner medullary collecting ducts (IMCDs) using quantitative video microscopy and fluorescence-based measurements of transepithelial water transport. We tested the roles of transepithelial water flow, basolateral solute entry, and the cytoskeleton (actomyosin). When a transepithelial osmolality gradient was imposed by addition of NaCl to the bath, AVP significantly increased both water flux and cell height. When the osmolality gradient was imposed by addition of mannitol, AVP increased water flux but not cell height, suggesting that AVP-induced cell swelling requires a NaCl gradient and is not merely dependent on the associated water flux. Bumetanide (Na-K-2Cl cotransporter inhibitor) added to the bath markedly diminished the AVP-induced cell height increase. AVP-induced cell swelling was absent in IMCDs from NKCC1-knockout mice. In rat IMCDs, replacement of Na, K, or Cl in the peritubular bath caused significant cell shrinkage, consistent with a basolateral solute transport pathway dependent on all three ions. Immunocytochemistry using an antibody to NKCC1 confirmed basolateral expression in IMCD cells. The conventional nonmuscle myosin II inhibitor blebbistatin also diminished the AVP-induced cell height increase and cell shape change, consistent with a role for the actin cytoskeleton and myosin II. We conclude that the AVP-induced cell height increase is dependent on basolateral solute uptake via NKCC1 and changes in actin organization via myosin II, but is not dependent specifically on increased apical water entry.

Proteomic Analysis of Cellular Response to Osmotic Stress in Thick Ascending Limb of Henle’s Loop (TALH) Cells

Epithelial cells of the thick ascending limb of Henle's loop (TALH cells) play a major role in the urinary concentrating mechanism. They are normally exposed to variable and often very high osmotic stress, which is particularly due to high sodium and chloride reabsorption and very low water permeability of the luminal membrane. It is already established that elevation of the activity of aldose reductase and hence an increase in intracellular sorbitol are indispensable for the osmotic adaptation and stability of the TALH cells. To identify new molecular factors potentially associated with the osmotic stress-resistant phenotype in kidney cells, TALH cells exhibiting low or high levels of resistance to osmotic stress were characterized using proteomic tools. Two-dimensional gel analysis showed a total number of 40 proteins that were differentially expressed in TALH cells under osmotic stress. Twenty-five proteins were overexpressed, whereas 15 proteins showed a down-regulation. Besides the sorbitol pathway enzyme aldose reductase, whose expression was 15 times increased, many other metabolic enzymes like glutathione S-transferase, malate dehydrogenase, lactate dehydrogenase, alpha enolase, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, and triose-phosphate isomerase were up-regulated. Among the cytoskeleton proteins and cytoskeleton-associated proteins vimentin, cytokeratin, tropomyosin 4, and annexins I, II, and V were up-regulated, whereas tubulin and tropomyosins 1, 2, and 3 were down-regulated. The heat shock proteins alpha-crystallin chain B, HSP70, and HSP90 were found to be overexpressed. In contrast to the results in oxidative stress the endoplasmic reticulum stress proteins like glucose-regulated proteins (GRP78, GRP94, and GRP96), calreticulin, and protein-disulfide isomerase were down-regulated under hypertonic stress.

Osmotic regulation of renal betaine transport: transcription and beyond

Cells in the kidney inner medulla are routinely exposed to high extracellular osmolarity during normal operation of the urinary concentrating mechanism. One adaptation critical for survival in this environment is the intracellular accumulation of organic osmolytes to balance the osmotic stress. Betaine is an important osmolyte that is accumulated via the betaine/gamma-aminobutyric acid transporter (BGT1) in the basolateral plasma membrane of medullary epithelial cells. In response to hypertonic stress, there is transcriptional activation of the BGT1 gene, followed by trafficking and membrane insertion of BGT1 protein. Transcriptional activation, triggered by changes in ionic strength and water content, is an early response that is a key regulatory step and has been studied in detail. Recent studies suggest there are additional post-transcriptional regulatory steps in the pathway leading to upregulation of BGT1 transport, and that additional proteins are required for membrane insertion. Reversal of this adaptive process, upon removal of hypertonic stress, involves a rapid efflux of betaine through specific release pathways, a reduction in betaine influx, and a slower downregulation of BGT1 protein abundance. There is much more to be learned about many of these steps in BGT1 regulation.

Cell volume regulation: osmolytes, osmolyte transport, and signal transduction

In recent years, it has become evident that the volume of a given cell is an important factor not only in defining its intracellular osmolality and its shape, but also in defining other cellular functions, such as transepithelial transport, cell migration, cell growth, cell death, and the regulation of intracellular metabolism. In addition, besides inorganic osmolytes, the existence of organic osmolytes in cells has been discovered. Osmolyte transport systems-channels and carriers alike-have been identified and characterized at a molecular level and also, to a certain extent, the intracellular signals regulating osmolyte movements across the plasma membrane. The current review reflects these developments and focuses on the contributions of inorganic and organic osmolytes and their transport systems in regulatory volume increase (RVI) and regulatory volume decrease (RVD) in a variety of cells. Furthermore, the current knowledge on signal transduction in volume regulation is compiled, revealing an astonishing diversity in transport systems, as well as of regulatory signals. The information available indicates the existence of intricate spatial and temporal networks that control cell volume and that we are just beginning to be able to investigate and to understand.

Sorbitol transport in rat renal inner medullary interstitial cells

BACKGROUND

Sorbitol plays an important role in renal osmoregulation. In the rat renal inner medulla sorbitol synthesis and sorbitol degradation are located in different cell types. Whereas sorbitol synthesis can be detected in the inner medullary collecting duct cells, sorbitol degradation takes place in the interstitial cells. Therefore, one can speculate that the cooperation between epithelial and interstitial cells requires sorbitol transport into interstitial cells.

METHODS

Our studies were performed with an interstitial cell line derived from the renal inner medulla of Wistar rats. These cells have typical characteristics of renal fibroblasts. In addition, they possess a high activity of sorbitol dehydrogenase as determined in vivo. Uptake was measured by liquid scintillation counting. For studies on sorbitol metabolism sorbitol concentration was measured photometrically.

RESULTS

The results show that sorbitol transport into interstitial cells occurs via a yet to be described transport system. No saturation of sorbitol transport could be found up to an extracellular sorbitol concentration of 80 mmol/L. The transport was neither sodium nor chloride dependent. Trans-stimulation increased the sorbitol uptake. Sorbitol uptake was less inhibited by cytochalasin B than 2-deoxy-D-glucose uptake. The transport showed a high affinity for sorbitol and only little inhibition of sorbitol uptake by substances with a similar structure was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results show a new sorbitol transport system in renal inner medullary interstitial cells, which is rather different from the described sorbitol permease in renal epithelial cells and from glucose transporters of the GLUT- and SGLT-family.

Two functionally distinct organic osmolyte pathways in Plasmodium gallinaceum-infected chicken red blood cells

Red cells infected with the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum have an increased permeability to a range of small, structurally unrelated solutes via a malaria-induced pathway. We report here a similar pathway present in parasitised red cells from chickens infected with the avian malaria parasite, Plasmodium gallinaceum. Parasitised cells showed a marked increase in the rate of influx of sorbitol (76-fold) and, to a lesser degree, taurine (3-fold) when compared with red cells from uninfected chickens. Pharmacological data suggest that both sorbitol and taurine are transported via a single malaria-induced pathway, which is sensitive to inhibition by 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino)benzoic acid (IC(50) approximately 7 microM). The malaria-induced pathway differed in its inhibition by a range of anion channel inhibitors when compared to the endogenous, volume-activated osmolyte pathway of chicken red cells. There were also differences in the selectivity of sorbitol and taurine by the two permeation routes. The data presented here are consistent with the presence of two distinct organic solute pathways in infected chicken red cells. The first is an endogenous volume-activated pathway, which is not activated by the parasite and the second is a malaria-induced pathway, similar to those that are induced by other types of malaria in other host species.

Hypotonicity activates transcription through ERK-dependent and -independent pathways in renal cells

Acute hypotonic shock (50% dilution of medium with sterile water, but not with isotonic NaCl) activated the extracellular signal response kinase (ERK) mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases in renal medullary cells, as measured by Western analysis with a phospho-ERK-specific antibody and by in vitro kinase assay of epitope-tagged ERKs immunoprecipitated from stable HA-ERK transfectants. Hypotonicity also activated the transcription factor and ERK substrate Elk-1 in a partially PD-98059-sensitive fashion, as assessed by chimeric reporter gene assay. Consistent with these data, hypotonic stress activated transcription of the immediate-early gene transcription factor Egr-1 in a partially PD-98059-sensitive fashion. Hypotonicity-inducible Egr-1 transcription was mediated in part through 5'-flanking regions containing serum response elements and in part through the minimal Egr-1 promoter. Elimination of the Ets motifs adjacent to key regulatory serum response elements in the Egr-1 promoter diminished the effect of hypotonicity but failed to abolish it. Interestingly, hypotonicity also transiently activated p38 and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase 1, as determined by immunoblotting with anti-phospho-MAP kinase antibodies. Taken together, these data strongly suggest that hypotonicity activates immediate-early gene transcription in renal medullary cells via MAP kinase kinase-dependent and -independent mechanisms.

Regulation of sorbitol content in cultured porcine urinary bladder epithelial cells

Sorbitol content was determined in porcine urinary bladder epithelial cells immediately after death of the animals and after primary culture of the cells at different osmolalities. In both instances, sorbitol content increased with urine and medium osmolality, respectively. For example, at 300 mosmol/kg the cultured cells contained 0.84 +/- 0.02 nmol/mg protein, at 600 mosmol/kg contained 21.7 +/- 0.95 nmol/mg protein, and at 900 mosmol/kg contained 59.5 +/- 2.8 nmol/mg protein. Similarly, aldose reductase activity rose from 0.27 +/- 0.04 mumol.h-1.mg protein-1 at 300 mosmol/kg to 1.81 +/- 0.16 at 600 mosmol/kg and to 3.02 +/- 0.33 at 900 mosmol/kg. These changes were, however, only observed when NaCl but not when urea was used to augment the medium osmolality, since urea equilibrated across the cell membrane. In contrast, sorbitol release from cells cultured at 900 mosmol/kg was slowest into a 900 mosmol/kg medium and fastest into a 300 mosmol/kg medium (63 +/- 16 nmol/10 min compared with 389 +/- 52 nmol/10 min). These studies demonstrate that the sorbitol content of porcine urinary bladder epithelium is regulated by changes both in sorbitol synthesis and sorbitol release. Thus the regulatory mechanisms in the urinary bladder seem to be similar to those present in the embryological related collecting duct.

Biochemistry and physiology of carbohydrates in the renal collecting duct

Using 13C-NMR analysis of cell extracts, enzymatic determination of metabolites and cofactors as well as enzyme assays on cell homogenates aerobic and anaerobic glycolysis, sorbitol formation by aldose reductase, the pentose phosphate shunt, and gluconeogenesis could be identified as the major pathways of D-glucose metabolism in renal inner medullary collecting ducts. In flux studies it was shown that D-glucose enters the collecting duct cells via a sodium-independent, cytochalasin- and phloretin-inhibitable transport system located at the basal-lateral cell side. At the same side sorbitol leaves the cells during regulatory volume decrease in a calcium-calmodulin-dependent fashion. From cell isolation studies it is proposed that sorbitol is taken up by adjacent (interstitial) cells, converted into fructose and then recycled to the collecting duct cells. This cycle might prevent carbohydrate wasting. Thus, IMCD cells exhibit unique aspects of carbohydrate biochemistry and physiology which enable them to function in a surrounding of low oxygen tension, low substrate supply, and extreme changes in extracellular osmolality.

Effect of hyperglycemia on the polyol pathway in rat kidney during the perinatal period

The activity of the polyol pathway was studied in developing rat kidney. For this purpose, sorbitol content, aldose-reductase activity and sorbitol-dehydrogenase activity were determined in papilla from fetuses and 24-h-old neonates. After birth, no significant difference was observed in sorbitol content, whereas sorbitol-dehydrogenase activity decreased and aldose-reductase activity doubled. Changes in aldose-reductase activity were due to an increased number of enzymatic sites but not with a change in affinity. Low levels of sorbitol were found in fetal and neonatal medulla together with low levels of urine osmolarity. In neonates, sorbitol contents were tenfold lower than in the adult, probably as a result of a lower affinity and a lower number of enzymatic aldose-reductase sites. Attempts to increase the activity of polyol pathway in fetal kidney were made by means of hyperglycemic animals; this approach resulted in an increase of aldose-reductase activity without any change in sorbitol content. Our results indicate that, in fetal and neonatal kidneys, aldose-reductase activity is probably not the limiting factor for sorbitol synthesis; another parameter, such as the availability of NADPH, might explain the low efficiency of the polyol pathway during the perinatal period.

Osmotic regulation of the betaine metabolism in immortalized renal cells

Betaine plays an important role in the osmoregulation of various renal cells. In the kidney betaine synthesis seems to be highest in the cortex, whereas osmotically regulated accumulation seems to play a crucial role in the inner medulla. Therefore, the influence of betaine synthesis on the long-term osmotic regulation of betaine content was investigated in epithelial SV40 transfected cell culture, derived from the outer medullary thick ascending limb of the loop of Henle (TALH) of rabbit kidney. Under hyperosmotic conditions the betaine content of TALH was significantly increased from 218 +/- 35 mumol/g protein (300 mOsm/liter; control) to 334 +/- 27 mumol/g (600 mOsm/liter; P < 0.0005). In addition the intracellular accumulation of 14C-betaine from 14C-choline was significantly elevated from 4.3 +/- 1.0 mumol/g protein x hr) to 8.2 +/- 1.0 mumol/g protein x hr; P < 0.001) under hyperosmotic conditions. Synthesis of betaine was also influenced by the extracellular betaine content. In a betaine free medium the synthesis of betaine was increased by 7% (300 mOsm/liter; NS) or 40% (600 mOsm/liter; P < 0.0001) when compared to betaine containing medium. The alteration of betaine synthesis is presumably caused by osmotic regulation of the betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase. Activity of this enzyme was significantly higher under hyperosmotic conditions compared to isoosmotic control conditions (Vmax 4.1 +/- 0.8 U/g protein; 600 mOsm/liter) versus 1.4 +/- 0.1 U/g (300 mOsm/liter; P < 0.0001), while the affinity to betaine aldehyde remained unaltered. These results demonstrate that during long-term adaptation, betaine synthesis in TALH cells of the outer medulla of rabbit kidney can be regulated by extracellular osmolarity.

Activation of a Cl(-)-conductive pathway in primary cultures of rat inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD) cells under hypotonic stress

In intracellular recordings with conventional microelectrodes on rat IMCD cells, we find that hypotonic stress depolarizes membrane voltage and decreases cell input resistance. Ion substitution experiments reveal that these effects are largely due to the activation of a prominent Cl- conductance. After block of this conductance with dideoxyforskolin a smaller concomitant increase in K+ conductance becomes detectable.

Intracellular calcium in primary cultures of rat renal inner medullary collecting duct cells during variations of extracellular osmolality

There is ample evidence of calcium being an intracellular second messenger during volume regulatory processes in various cells including inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD) cells. Therefore, we measured intracellular calcium concentrations (Cai) under anisotonic conditions in primary cultures of IMCD cells using the Fura-2 technique. Basal steady-state calcium at 600 mosmol/l was found to be 110 +/- 4 nmol/l; n = 119. Exposure to hypotonic medium (300 mosmol/l, reduction of sucrose) resulted, within 1 min, in a strong increase in calcium to 563 +/- 87 nmol/l (n = 7; P < 0.01), followed by a decrease over 4-6 min to twice the initial values. The calcium increase was smaller (260 +/- 14 nmol/l; n = 5; P < 0.05) when the osmotic pressure was decreased by reducing NaCl instead of sucrose. Stepwise reduction of osmolarity to either 500 or 400 mosmol/l increased calcium by a significantly smaller extent, suggesting a threshold for calcium influx between 400 and 300 mosmol/l. In hypotonic calcium-free solutions no significant increase in calcium was observed. Verapamil (40 mumol/l), D-600 (40 mumol/l), diltiazem (40 mumol/l), and nifedipine (40 mumol/l) inhibited the hypotonically induced calcium influx in decreasing order of potency. Lanthanum (La3+) and gadolinium (Gd3+) had no effect. Membrane depolarization by incubation in potassium-rich solution diminished calcium influx. Preincubation with cytochalasin B (50 mumol/l for 30 min) resulted in a lower basal calcium level and attenuated the calcium increase during hypotonic shock. These results demonstrate an increased calcium influx during hypotonic shock in IMCD cells in culture mediated by channels whose nature (stretch activated and/or voltage dependent) remains to be determined. The transient increase in Cai in turn may trigger inorganic and organic osmolyte fluxes observed previously.

Control of sorbitol metabolism in renal inner medulla of diabetic rats: regulation by substrate, cosubstrate and products of the aldose reductase reaction

Streptozotocin diabetes induces a 4-fold increase in the maximal velocity of inner medullary aldose reductase as determined in vitro but increases sorbitol synthesis in intact inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD) cells only 1.3-fold. In order to resolve this discrepancy we investigated the importance of intracellular factors in controlling the role of cellular sorbitol synthesis. These factors include glucose concentration, sorbitol concentration, the activity of the NADPH-regenerating pentose phosphate pathway, intracellular NADP and NADPH content, and intracellular reduced (GSH) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG). It was found that the apparent Km of cellular sorbitol production for glucose was identical in control and diabetic rats (56 +/- 18 vs. 59 +/- 14 mmol/l D-glucose), whereas Vmax increased by 31% in diabetes. In inner medullary collecting duct cells of diabetic rats containing 146 +/- 5 mumol sorbitol/g protein, sorbitol synthesis was slightly lower (-15%), compared to cells which had been sorbitol-depleted prior to the experiment (87 +/- 4 mumol sorbitol/g protein). However, no inhibitory effect of sorbitol (up to 200 mmol/l) was observed on aldose reductase activity in vitro. In diabetic rats the content of NADPH was about 32% lower than in the control rats (3.8 +/- 0.3 vs. 5.6 +/- 0.4 mumol/g protein) and the ratio of NADPH/NADP was decreased from 25.6 +/- 5.1 to 8.6 +/- 1.7. In homogenates of the inner medulla the activity of 6-phospho-gluconate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.43) was identical in both experimental groups, so the pentose phosphate shunt seems to be unaltered. GSH content in diabetic rats was also diminished (4.02 +/- 0.67 mumol/g protein vs. 7.41 +/- 0.5 mumol/g protein) and the GSH/GSSG ratio fell from 92.6 to 57.4. In enzyme tests in vitro an apparent Km of 7.3 +/- 1.9 mumol/l of the aldose reductase for NADPH was found; NADP acted as competitive inhibitor with an apparent K(i) of 183 +/- 31 mumol/l. Aldose reductase activity was also found to be strongly inhibited by the SH-group reagent p-chloromercurybenzoesulfonate (apparent K(i) = 0.85 x 10(-6) mol/l). Combining the results obtained on the properties of the aldose reductase in vitro and the observation made in the intact cells, the investigators suggest that the decrease in NADPH/NADP ratio, as well as changes in the redox state in the cells of diabetic animals, can play a significant role in the control of sorbitol synthesis.

Ion content and cell volume in isolated collecting duct cells: effect of hypotonicity

On isolated inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD) cells of the rat kidney the capability of osmoregulatory adaptation was investigated in vitro. IMCD cells were isolated by differential centrifugation at 600 mOsm (268 mM NaCl) and subsequently exposed to hypotonic buffers (300 mOsm, 118 mM NaCl). The alterations of ion content and cell volume following this change in extracellular osmolarity were studied by electron probe microanalysis and determination of intracellular water. After swelling within 40 seconds to 152 +/- 15% of control (P < 0.001; N = 9) cell volume was restored after 15 minutes. This regulatory volume decrease (RVD) was observed irrespective whether extracellular osmolarity was changed by using NaCl or mannitol as the major osmolyte. During RVD the cells lost sodium (48 +/- 11%) and chloride (14 +/- 5%), and the potassium content remained nearly unchanged. Correspondingly, sodium and chloride concentrations were progressively lowered, whereas the potassium concentration changed only transiently. RVD was diminished by 10(-4) M NPPB, 10(-3) M SITS and in the absence of HCO3-. Twenty millimoles of ouabain or 5 mM barium also inhibited RVD with little additive effect. A total of 10(-3) M amiloride and 10(-4) M bumetanide showed no effect on the hypoosmotic volume response. The experiments show that in isolated IMCD cells exposed to hypotonic conditions, rapid reversible changes in cell volume and sustained alterations in cell inorganic ion content occur, and thereby transmembrane sodium and potassium gradients are maintained. Since the loss in inorganic electrolytes does not account for RVD, the major part of volume regulation seems to occur via changes in organic osmolytes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Metabolism of the 'organic osmolyte' glycerophosphorylcholine in isolated rat inner medullary collecting duct cells. II. Regulation by extracellular osmolality

In isolated inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD) cells requirements for the organic osmolyte glycerophosphorylcholine (GPC) vary with extracellular osmolality. To investigate mechanisms of osmotic adaptation GPC metabolism was studied under different osmotic conditions. In contrast to the GPC precursors choline and phosphatidylcholine (PC) cellular GPC was proportional to the osmolality. Hypotonic decrease in cellular GPC was mediated by fast initial release significantly exceeding the low hypertonic release. In long-term studies the total amount of GPC decreased significantly under hypotonic conditions but remained constant under hypertonic conditions resulting in a significant difference after 15 h. To investigate osmotic influences on GPC synthesis and GPC degradation studies with [methyl-3H]choline were performed. Pulse-chase experiments displayed no significant osmotic differences in PC synthesis or in PC degradation to GPC indicated by a similar specific activity of PC. This suggested that phospholipase A2 (PC degradation) was osmotically insensitive. A small and distinct metabolic PC pool may be responsible for high radioactive labeling of newly synthesized GPC which displayed a significantly higher specific activity under hypotonic conditions accompanied by a decrease in GPC amount. Therefore, a higher activity of glycerophosphorylcholine:choline phosphodiesterase (GPC:choline phosphodiesterase) (GPC degradation) under hypotonic conditions is proposed. Similar conclusions can be drawn from using phosphatidyl[methyl-3H]choline. As further evidence for osmotic regulation of GPC:choline phosphodiesterase the specific activity of choline displayed a significant hypotonic increase with chase time which may be equivalent to increased GPC degradation. Therefore, the in vitro experiments suggest that cellular GPC is regulated by an osmosensitive GPC:choline phosphodiesterase. Such a regulation also seems to be present during long-term in vivo experiments. No evidence was found for a genetic adaptation of GPC:choline phosphodiesterase in vivo.

Metabolism of the 'organic osmolyte' glycerophosphorylcholine in isolated rat inner medullary collecting duct cells. I. Pathways for synthesis and degradation

In isolated inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD) cells the adaptation to changes in extracellular osmolarity involves alterations in intracellular content of organic osmolytes such as glycerophosphorylcholine (GPC), sorbitol and others. To elucidate the basis of such alterations, the metabolism of GPC in IMCD cells was investigated with the labeled GPC precursor [methyl-3H]choline. The lipids phosphatidylcholine (PC), lyso PC (LPC) and sphingomyelin (SM), as well as the non lipids phosphorylcholine (Pcholine), GPC and an unknown water-soluble compound could be identified as intermediates of choline metabolism. In pulse-chase experiments the radioactivity of PC expressed as specific activity was at a higher level than the other metabolites (> 10-fold after 1h). Extended chase incubations caused the specific activity of PC and LPC to decrease significantly. GPC was the only metabolite with a significant increase in specific activity under these conditions, suggesting that PC (via LPC) could be the precursor of GPC. In short-term pulse experiments the specific activity of PC and LPC was always significantly higher compared to the specific activity of GPC. Pulse chase incubations using phosphatidyl[methyl-3H]choline showed a significant decrease in specific activity of PC after 15 h accompanied by a significant increase in specific activity of LPC as well as GPC. Inhibition of the PC hydrolyzing enzyme phospholipase A2 revealed a significant increase in the specific activity of PC. For GPC, a significant decrease in the radioactive labeling could be detected. The total amount of PC decreased by 10% under these conditions whereas the amount of GPC decreased by 22% which was significantly higher because of GPC breakdown. GPC degradation was catalyzed by GPC: choline diesterase generating choline (and phosphoglycerol). Significant activity of GPC:phosphocholine diesterase could not be detected. Betaine synthesis from choline was also not present. The slowest, and probably rate-limiting reaction of GPC synthesis from choline may be the reaction of phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase generating CDP choline, since no radioactive CDP choline could be detected under any conditions. Thus, isolated IMCD cells possess the ability for the synthesis of GPC from choline via PC and LPC, as well as for the GPC degradation to choline (and phosphoglycerol). Significant experimental evidence for the occurrence of de-novo synthesis of GPC from choline or a precursor function of GPC for PC could not be detected. However, although the former possibility seems unlikely, a final proof is still lacking.

The role of organic osmolytes in osmoregulation: from bacteria to mammals

Cells of marine species are known to establish osmotic balance with their environment by adjusting the concentrations of organic osmolytes rather than inorganic osmolytes such as sodium, potassium, and chloride. These organic osmolytes fall into three classes: polyhydric alcohols such as sorbitol, amino acids and amino acid derivatives, and urea and trimethylamines. Substantial evidence is available for a central role of each of these classes in osmoregulation in marine species. In this chapter information on the importance of organic osmolytes is extended to a study of isolated mammalian kidney cells. The intracellular concentration of organic osmolytes in these cells responds dramatically to changes in the osmotic environment. The release of sorbitol following hypoosmotic exposure appears to be triggered by calcium, possibly via a mechanism involving membrane recycling. The summarized experiments provide a basis for further work in marine species.

Efflux and accumulation of amino nitrogen in relation to the volume of rat renal inner medullary cells exposed to media of variable osmolality

The rate of efflux of 2-amino[14C]isobutyric acid (AIB) from pre-loaded slices of rat renal inner medulla has been followed during incubation in media whose osmolality was varied between 350 and 2500 mosmol/kg H2O by adjustment of NaCl and urea concentrations. Efflux was biphasic, and it was assumed that the second, slower phase represented mainly cellular loss of AIB. As a function of cell volume (water content) the mean net rate of 2nd phase efflux declined far more abruptly (-36%) during an increase in external osmolality from 350 to 720 mosmol/kg than during further increase to 2500 mosmol/kg, over which range the rate of efflux fell by only a further 12%. Conversely, relative decrements of steady-state cell water contents during these two transitions were -17% and -37%, respectively. It is probable that in strongly hyperosmolal media (above 720 mosmol/kg) reduction in the rate of amino acid catabolism, with resultant cellular accumulation, becomes more important than passive efflux as a determinant of cell amino nitrogen content, and that this is caused by the enzyme-destabilizing effect of high intracellular concentrations of permeant urea. This interpretation is supported by the finding in the present study that trimethylamine N-oxide, which is known to counteract the destabilizing effect of urea, completely inhibited the accumulation of amino nitrogen (ninhydrin-positive substances) in media stronger than 720 mosmol/kg, as well as leading to further reduction of steady-state cell water contents, but was without effect on either variable in more dilute media. It is proposed that, under the conditions of this investigation, amino acids contribute to cell volume maintenance mainly by efflux and by metabolic accumulation under mildly and strongly hyperosmolal conditions, respectively, and that this interpretation is consistent with recent findings on the fluctuations in medullary levels of Na+, urea and total amino nitrogen in the intact kidneys of rats during acute water diuresis and oliguria (Law, R.O. (1991) Pflügers Arch. 418, 442-446).

Specific protein phosphorylation occurs in molluscan red blood cell ghosts in response to hypoosmotic stress

The regulation of cellular volume upon exposure to hypoosmotic stress is accomplished by specific plasma membrane permeability changes that allow the efflux of certain intracellular solutes (osmolytes). The mechanism of this membrane permeability regulation is not understood; however, previous data implicate Ca2+ as an important component in the response. The regulation of protein phosphorylation is a pervasive aspect of cellular physiology that is often Ca2+ dependent. Therefore, we tested for osmotically induced protein phosphorylation as a possible mechanism by which Ca2+ may mediate osmotically dependent osmolyte efflux. We have found a rapid increase in 32Pi incorporation into two proteins in clam blood cell ghosts after exposure of the intact cells to a hypoosmotic medium. The osmotic component of the stress, not the ionic dilution, was the stimulus for the phosphorylations. The osmotically induced phosphorylation of both proteins was significantly inhibited when Ca2+ was omitted from the medium, or by the calmodulin antagonist, chlorpromazine. These results correlate temporally with cell volume recovery and osmolyte (specifically free amino acid) efflux. The two proteins that become phosphorylated in response to hypoosmotic stress may be involved in the regulation of plasma membrane permeability to organic solutes, and thus, contribute to hypoosmotic cell volume regulation.

Activation of osmolyte efflux from cultured renal papillary epithelial cells

The rabbit renal papillary epithelial cell line PAP-HT25 accumulates sorbitol and other organic osmolytes when cultured in hypertonic media. When returned to isotonic media, PAP-HT25 cells swell because of water influx and then shrink to their normal volume because of rapid osmolyte and water efflux (volume regulatory decrease, VRD). Sorbitol efflux from PAP-HT25 cells during VRD was reduced to 18% of control by incubation of the cells with 100 microM eicosatetraynoic acid (ETYA), indicating that an enzyme that metabolizes arachidonic acid (AA) is a key component of the efflux process. Sorbitol efflux was unaffected by incubation with cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase inhibitors but was reduced to 9% by incubation with 100 microM ketoconazole and to 37% by incubation with 100 microM SKF-525A, indicating that the cytochrome P-450 limb of the AA cascade is involved in the efflux process. The efflux of other organic osmolytes betaine and myoinositol, but not glycerolphosphorylcholine, was also inhibited by incubation with ETYA and ketoconazole.

Alterations in renal inner medullary levels of amino nitrogen during acute water diuresis and hypovolaemic oliguria in rats

Levels of total amino compounds (ninhydrinpositive substances, n.p.s.) have been measured in the inner medullas of rats during acute water diuresis and following the induction of hypovolaemic oliguria by the injection (i.p.) of 30% polyethylene glycol 20,000 (PEG) in 0.9% saline. Mean medullary fluid n.p.s. concentrations fell from 26.5 mmol to 15.2 mmol Gly equiv/l (-43%) within 2.5 h from the onset of diuresis, while the mean calculated tissue osmolality decreased from 738 mosmol/kg (control) to 369 mosmol/kg H2O. By 24 h n.p.s. and osmolality had returned to control levels. By 0.5 h after injection of PEG the mean concentration of n.p.s. had increased from 26.4 mmol to 32.7 mmol Gly equiv/l (+24%) and by 4 h had reached 60.4 mmol Gly equiv/l (+19%). During this time the calculated mean tissue fluid osmolality rose from 696 to 1037 mosmol/kg H2O. Levels of n.p.s. did not increase further for up to 12 h. It is proposed that losses of amino compounds may make a significant contribution to the overall decrease in medullary cellular osmotic potential accompanying reduced tissue fluid osmolality, and that increased levels of these solutes may provide short-term osmoprotection during antidiuresis of rapid onset, in contrast to the more slowly accumulating methylamines and polyhydric alcohols.

Hypotonic stress-induced release of KHCO3 in fused renal epitheloid (MDCK) cells

Mechanisms of cell volume regulation induced by the reduction of the osmolality of the Ringer solution by one-third were studied in fused Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells. Intracellular HCO3-, K+ and Cl- concentrations [ion]i in parallel with cell membrane potential (PD), cell membrane conductance (Gm) and conductances of individual ions (Gmion) were evaluated with microelectrode techniques. Fused cells regulate their cell volume by about 50%. Gm increased from 0.43 +/- 0.03 mS/cm2 in isotonic Ringer solution to 4.3 +/-0.3 mS/cm2 in the steady state phase of cell swelling. GmCl was 0.31 +/- 0.03 mS/cm2 in isotonic Ringer solution and thus was the dominant individual ion conductance. In the initial phase of cell swelling GmK increased transiently 64-fold to 0.32 +/- 0.03 mS/cm2, and consequently PD hyperpolarized. At peak hyperpolarization GmCl transiently decreased by 15%. Cell swelling increased GmCl 11-fold and GmHCO3 28-fold to 0.95 +/- 0.1 mS/cm2 in the steady state phase of cell swelling. In this phase GmCl and GmHCO3 were dominating, whereas GmK was only slightly increased compared to isotonic conditions. The hyperpolarization of PD was paralleled by cytoplasmic acidification. At peak acidification [HCO3-]i decreased by 6.4 mmol/kg H2O. Cl- extrusion was not detectable in the initial phase of cell swelling. In isotonic Ringer solution [K+]i was 125 +/- 5 mmol/kg H2O. During the initial phase of cell swelling 23 +/- 5 mmol/kg H2O K+ was extruded, indicating that yet unknown anions participated in cell volume regulation in this phase of cell swelling. In the steady state phase of cell swelling [pH]i was normalized by replenishing [HCO3-]i, whereas Cl- was extruded. We conclude that fused renal epitheloid cells acutely release KHCO3 in response to hypotonicity, but then regain pH homeostasis in the steady state phase of cell swelling.

Role of organic osmolytes in adaptation of renal cells to high osmolality

Kidney cells accumulate organic osmolytes in order to protect themselves from the high concentrations of NaCl and urea in the blood and interstitial fluid of the renal medulla. The renal medullary organic osmolytes are sorbitol, inositol, betaine and GPC. The concentrations of these solutes in renal medullary NaCl and urea concentration, as summarized in Fig. 8 (the putative controlled steps are highlighted). Sorbitol accumulates by synthesis from glucose, catalyzed by aldose reductase. Hypertonicity increases the transcription of the gene that encodes this enzyme. GPC is synthesized from choline, and the amount retained apparently may be controlled by the activity of GPC diesterase, an enzyme that catabolizes GPC. Inositol and betaine are taken up from the medium by sodium-dependent transport, and this transport is increased by hypertonicity. Control of these processes is slow (hours to days), but a decrease in tonicity causes a transient, rapid efflux of the solutes, which prevents the cells from becoming overly distended. Similar strategies are used by all types of cells, including bacteria and those in plants and animals, that can adapt to hyperosmotic stress.

Importance of organic osmolytes for osmoregulation by renal medullary cells

The cells in the renal medulla protect themselves from the extracellular hypertonicity in that region of the kidney by accumulating large amounts of sorbitol, inositol, glycerophosphorylcholine, and betaine. The system is uniquely active in this part of the body, but it represents a throwback to primitive mechanisms by which cells in virtually all organisms, including bacteria, yeasts, plants, and lower animals counteract water stress. In this brief review, we summarize how these "compatible organic osmolytes" help the renal medullary cells to survive, the mechanisms by which the organic osmolytes are accumulated, and how the accumulation is controlled to adjust for changing extracellular NaCl and urea concentrations. The compatible organic osmolytes are all intermediates in important biochemical pathways, and although the medical consequences are not yet fully worked out, it is already apparent that inappropriate accumulation of these solutes has major pathophysiological consequences.

Regulation and localization of organic osmolytes in mammalian kidney

Four organic small molecules belonging to the chemical groups of trimethylamines (betaine and glycerophosphorylcholine) and polyols (sorbitol and inositol) have been shown to act as organic osmolytes in the kidney. When measured along the corticopapillary axis, each exhibits a specific distribution pattern, indicating a specific localization and function. Studying their behaviour under vasopressin treatment in diabetes insipidus rats and after insulin treatment in diabetes mellitus rats confirmed this conclusion: AVP led to a steady increase of sorbitol and glycerophosphorylcholine over 7 days with no effect on inositol levels. Insulin treatment of diabetic rats, on the other hand, decreased sorbitol with a concomitant increase in glycerophosphorylcholine, again without any effect on tubular inositol concentrations. From this and in vitro studies it can be concluded that both hormones act by indirect mechanisms which alter interstitial osmolality. This in turn leads to a change in tubular osmolyte synthesis, uptake and release rates. In addition, the concentrations of the respective precursors glucose and choline influence the formation rates of sorbitol and betaine.

Role of Ca2+ in sorbitol release from rat inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD) cells under hypoosmotic stress

The role of Ca2+ was studied in the release of the organic osmolyte sorbitol from rat IMCD cells in response to hypoosmotic stress. When cells were exposed to hypoosmotic media, sorbitol release was greatly reduced in Ca-free media which, on readmission of Ca2+, returned to control values. Under isoosmotic conditions, the ionophore A23187 stimulated sorbitol release without any effect on cell volume. Addition of trifluoperazine, a calmodulin inhibitor, but not the protein kinase C inhibitor H-7, inhibited the osmotically-activated sorbitol release. These results suggest that sorbitol release is a calmodulin-dependent event, possibly activated by a rise in intracellular calcium as a result of cell swelling.

[Study of kidney function using isolated cells]

After summarizing the progress which has been made with regard to the isolation and characterization of homogeneous cell populations from the kidney, a brief survey of current techniques available for the analysis of intracellular parameters is given. Special emphasis is thereby placed on the use of electron probe X-ray microanalysis to determine intracellular elements and on "in vivo" nuclear magnetic resonance to define metabolic pathways in isolated cells. These methods have been applied to study ion and substrate fluxes in isolated collecting duct cells and the response of these cells to changes in osmolality of the extracellular medium. This response involves initially fast water movements accompanied by changes in intracellular sodium and chloride but not potassium concentration. Longterm adaptation is achieved by the adjustment of the intracellular concentration of "organic osmolytes" such as sorbitol, myoinositol, glycerophosphorylcholine, and betaine through changes in the rate of efflux of these metabolites from the cell. In the last section the effect of experimentally induced diabetes mellitus on the osmoregulation in isolated collecting ducts is described.

Sorbitol metabolism in inner medullary collecting duct cells of diabetic rats

Intracellular accumulation of sorbitol, generated from D-glucose via the aldose reductase pathway, is thought to play an important role in diabetic complications such as lens cataracts and neuropathy. In order to elucidate the effect of diabetes on the renal inner medulla, another sorbitol-rich tissue, male Wistar rats were treated with a single dose of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg body weight, i.p.). Six weeks later total inner medullary tissue (IM) or isolated inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD) cells were prepared. In diabetic IM tissue, sorbitol content was 1.8-fold higher than in control IM tissue (134 +/- 17 vs. 74 +/- 22 mumol/g tissue protein). Sorbitol production in both normal and diabetic IMCD cells was strongly dependent on extracellular D-glucose concentration. In normal cells, for example, sorbitol production was 90 +/- 9 mumol sorbitol/g protein x h at 45 mM D-glucose compared to 13 +/- 1 mumol/g protein x h at 5 mM. At identical D-glucose concentrations sorbitol synthesis in diabetic IMCD cells was, however, always significantly higher than in control cells (122% of control at 15 mM and 126% of control at 45 mM). In addition, aldose reductase activity in diabetic IM was found to be augmented. The maximal velocity was 4.2 times higher (97 +/- 22 U/g protein vs. 23 +/- 7 U/g protein) while the Km of the enzyme remained unchanged. Membrane permeability for sorbitol or the response to changes in extracellular osmolarity was not significantly different in diabetic IMCD cells and normal cells with correspondingly high intracellular sorbitol concentrations. Similarly the kinetic parameters of D-glucose uptake were not altered by streptozotocin treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)