Potassium transport in epithelial cells isolated from small intestine of the chicken

Potassium channels in intestinal epithelial cells and their pharmacological modulation: a systematic review

Several potassium channels (KCs) have been described throughout the gastrointestinal tract. Notwithstanding, their contribution to both physiologic and pathophysiologic conditions, as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), remains underexplored. Therefore, we aim to systematically review, for the first time, the evidence on the characteristics and modulation of KCs in intestinal epithelial cells (IECs). PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched to identify studies focusing on KCs and their modulation in IECs. The included studies were assessed using a reporting inclusiveness checklist. From the 745 identified records, 73 met the inclusion criteria; their reporting inclusiveness was moderate-high. Some studies described the physiological role of KCs, while others explored their importance in pathological settings. Globally, in IBD animal models, apical K_Ca1.1 channels, responsible for luminal secretion, were upregulated. In human colonocytes, basolateral K_Ca3.1 channels were downregulated. The pharmacological inhibition of K_2P and K_v influenced intestinal barrier function, promoting inflammation. Evidence suggests a strong association between KCs expression and secretory mechanisms in human and animal IECs. Further research is warranted to explore the usefulness of KC pharmacological modulation as a therapeutic target.

Proton conductance and intracellular pH recovery from an acid load in chicken enterocytes

1. Chicken enterocytes present a Na(+)-independent proton transport mechanism involved in pHi recovery from an acid load. In the current study the nature of this proton transport system is investigated. 2. The pHi of acid-loaded cells increased when transferred to Na(+)-free, pH 7.4 buffers, both at 6 and 65 mM extracellular potassium concentration. Addition of nigericin accelerated the rate of cell alkalinization. 3. When acid-loaded cells were transferred to a Na(+)-free, pH 6.5 buffer, the cells acidified further, regardless of the extracellular potassium concentration. The addition of nigericin increased the rate of acidification at 6 mM K+ but produced an alkalinization at 65 mM K+. 4. The rate of the Na(+)-independent regulatory cell alkalinization was inhibited by SCH 28080, DCCD, NBD-Cl, rotenone or Zn2+. Addition of valinomycin reversed the inhibition induced by SCH 28080, DCCD and NBD-Cl but not that induced by Zn2+ or rotenone. Zn2+ inhibition was abolished by the metal chelator DTPA. 5. Cytosolic acidification increased the rate of Na(+)-independent regulatory cell alkalinization. 6. The results suggest that the Na(+)-independent proton transport system is a Zn(2+)-sensitive proton-conducting pathway which is regulated by the cytosolic proton concentration.

Effect of external potassium concentration on potassium uptake and potassium permeability of chicken enterocytes

1. The effects of external potassium concentration on potassium uptake and potassium permeability have been investigated in isolated chicken enterocytes. 2. Ouabain-sensitive K+ uptake exhibited simple saturation kinetics with an apparent affinity constant, KT, of approximately, 1 mM K+. In the presence of ouabain, K+ uptake relates linearly with its external concentration, and the apparent diffusion constant, KD, was 1.3 nmol mg-1 protein mM-1 min-1. 3. Membrane potential, evaluated from the transmembrane TPP+ distribution ratio, was lower than the potassium equilibrium potential. 4. Estimated potassium permeability is decreased by low external potassium concentration and unaffected by high external potassium concentration.

Age-related modifications of leucine uptake in brush-border membrane vesicles from rat jejunum

Leucine uptake in brush-border membrane vesicles purified from rat jejunum is sodium-dependent, sensitive to the membrane electrical potential difference and enhanced by the intravesicular presence of potassium. This last effect is not mediated by the genesis of an electrical potential difference, since potassium activation and electrical potential effects are additive. Sodium-dependent leucine Vmax (1568 +/- 91 pmol/mg per 3 s, is higher in young rats than in adult and old animals. The diffusion component of leucine transport decreases with increasing age. Preloading the vesicles with 100 mM KCl increases leucine Vmax 200% in young animals, 100% in adult and 44% in old animals. The potassium activation is a saturation function of the cation concentration. Leucine uptake in brush border membrane from old animals is less sensitive to the electrical potential difference than in membranes from adult and young animals.

Cl-/base exchange and cellular pH regulation in enterocytes isolated from chick small intestine

Intracellular pH (pHi) and Cl-/base exchange activity have been examined in isolated chicken enterocytes, both in the presence and absence of 25 mM HCO3-/5% CO2. Intracellular pH was measured with BCECF, a pH-sensitive carboxyfluorescein derivative. Under resting conditions pHi was 7.17 in Hepes and 7.12 in HCO3(-)-buffered solutions. Cells became more alkaline upon withdrawal of Cl-. Cells depleted of Cl- acidified upon reinstatement of Cl-. These changes were faster in the presence of HCO3- than in its absence. After an alkaline load (removal of HCO3- from the medium) pHi decreases towards base line in the presence of Cl-, but not in its absence. The Cl(-)-dependent pHi changes were prevented by H2DIDS and were unaffected by Na+. The Cl(-)-induced recovery from an alkaline load exhibited simple saturation kinetics, with an apparent Km of 12.5 mM Cl- and maximum velocity of approximately 0.20 pH units min-1. The Cl-/base exchange is functional under resting conditions, as shown by cell alkalinization on exposure to 0.5 mM H2DIDS, both in the presence and in the absence of HCO3-. It is concluded that Cl-/base exchange participates in setting the resting intracellular pH in isolated chicken enterocytes and helps recover from alkaline loads. The exchange operates both in the presence and in the absence of bicarbonate.

Identification of apamin binding sites in rat intestinal mucosa

Apamin, a specific blocker of one class of Ca(2+)-activated K+ channes, was used to detect the apamin receptors associated with K+ channels in the mucosa of the rat jejunum and colon. Two receptor sites for 125I-apamin have been identified. These sites differed in their affinity for apamin (jejunum: KD1 = 1.1 nM and KD2 = 170 nM; colon: KD1 = 0.5 nM and KD2 = 1.1 nM and KD2 = 140 nM) and the maximum number of sites (jejunum: B(max1) = 111 and B(max2) = 4030; colon: B(max1) = 187 and B(max2) = 7550 fmol/mg of protein). 125I-apamin binding was stimulated by K+ ions with K0.5 = 1.0 mM and inhibited by the neuromuscular blocker tubocurarine (KI = 50 microM). We interpret these data to demonstrate that the high-affinity, low-capacity binding sites reflect the existence of apamin-sensitive K+ channels in the intestinal mucosa.

Ion transport across the chick ileum: a good model for transport studies

1. The young chick (5-8 days) has been found to be an excellent preparation for the study of transepithelial intestinal ion transport. Due to the thinness of the intestinal tissue, it is not necessary to remove the serosal layers (serosal membranes, circular, and longitudinal muscles), thus circumventing the problems inherent in "stripping" the tissue. 2. The intact chick ileum had a significantly greater short-circuit current (Isc) and lower resistance than did intact adult ileum and transport parameters remained stable over the 6 hr experimental period. 3. Compared to the adult tissue, unidirectional fluxes of Na and Cl were greater in the chick ileum. Net flux of Na (absorption) was about 3 times greater in the chick ileum and the flux was equivalent to the Isc, thus this preparation appears to be characterized by electrogenic Na absorption. 4. Several ileal preparations from day old chicks were studied over an 18 hr period and these preparations were found to remain viable for this period of time with the Isc at the end of 18 hr being nearly identical to that at 2 hr. 5. Besides the advantage of not having to strip the intestinal tissue, and the long-term viability of the tissue, the chick is very inexpensive and easy to obtain and maintain.

Influence of external K+ on potassium efflux in isolated chicken enterocytes

1. Efflux of K+ was measured in pre-loaded (86Rb+) chicken enterocytes incubated in buffers with external K+ concentration ([K+]0) between 1 and 40 mM. 2. A decrease in [K+]0 from 6 to 1 mM reduced the rate constant of K+ efflux, whereas it was stimulated by increasing [K+]0 from 6 to 40 mM. 3. The inhibitory effect of low [K+]0 on K+ efflux was: (i) higher than that expected from a change in the electrical driving force, suggesting that membrane K+ permeability has been decreased, and (ii) attenuated by A23187 and Na(+)-free buffers. 4. The effect of A23187 on K(+)-induced K+ efflux was abolished by apamin and that of Na(+)-free buffers by apamin, quinine or verapamil, which suggests that the effect of low K+ on K+ efflux seems to be due to decreased intracellular Ca2+ concentration. 5. The stimulatory effect of 40 mM K0+ on K+ exit can be accounted for by an increase in the electrical driving force. 6. The efflux of K+ at 40 mM K0 appears to occur through Ca2(+)-activated K+ channels (KCa) since it was prevented by 500 microM quinine and unaffected by bumetanide or 3,4-diaminopyridine. 7. In addition, the current results show that an increase in external K+ concentration reduced the ability of quinine to inhibit KCa channels, and even abolished that of Ba2+ and apamin.

Na(+)-H+ exchange activity and cellular pH regulation in enterocytes isolated from chick small intestine

Intracellular pH (pHi) and Na+/H+ exchange activity have been examined in isolated chicken enterocytes using pH sensitive fluorescence dye 2',7'-bis(carboxyethyl)-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein (BCECF), and in a nominally bicarbonate-free buffer. Under resting conditions the pHi (7.18) was higher than that observed in the presence of the proton ionophore FCCP (6.98), indicating that [H+] is below the value predicted for electrochemical equilibrium across the plasma membrane, i.e., pHi is regulated. Removal of extracellular Na+ lowered pHi by 0.28 units and subsequent addition of 80 mM Na+ rapidly increased pHi towards the control value. The acidification induced by Na(+)-removal was prevented by 1 mM amiloride. After an intracellular acidification by exposure to 30 mM NH4Cl during 5 min, the pHi decreased from approx. 7.18 to approx. 6.86. Subsequent alkalinization of cells back to control pHi was observed after addition of Na+ or Li+ but not TEA+. Na(+)-dependent recovery of pHi after an acid-load was unaffected by valinomycin, and was 82% reduced by 1 mM amiloride. The inhibitory action of amiloride was abolished by 10 microM monensin. The initial rate of pHi recovery from an acid-load following exposure to Na+ exhibited simple saturation kinetics, with an apparent Km of 12.5 mM Na+ and maximum velocity of alkalinization of approx 0.2 pH units.min-1. The rate of pHi recovery was inversely proportional to pHi. The 'set point' for the exchanger is approx. 7.35. It is concluded that in chicken enterocytes the Na+/H+ exchange system is not quiescent at resting pHi and, thus, contributes to the maintenance of a steady-state pHi at neutral or slightly alkaline levels.

Effect of K+ channel-blockers on sugar uptake by isolated chicken enterocytes

The effects of Ba2+, quinine, verapamil, and Ca2(+)-free saline solutions on sugar active transport have been investigated in isolated chicken enterocytes. Ba2+, quinine, and verapamil, which have been shown to inhibit Ca2(+)-activated K+ channels, decreased basal and theophylline-dependent 3-O-methylglucose (3-O-MG) accumulation. Ca2(+)-free conditions reduced 3-O-MG uptake in theophylline-treated enterocytes, but it had no effect in control cells. On the other hand, the uptake of a non-actively transported sugar, 2-deoxyglucose (2-DOG), by control or theophylline-treated cells was not modified by the presence of verapamil or by Ca2(+)-removal. 3-O-MG increased ouabain-sensitive Na(+)-efflux, but had no effect on either K+ efflux or K+ uptake. However, in the presence of Ba2+, K+ uptake was stimulated by 3-O-MG, and this increase was prevented by ouabain. All these findings are discussed in terms of the role that K+ permeability may play in cellular homeostasis during sugar active transport.

Effects of anisosmotic buffers on K+ transport in isolated chicken enterocytes

Cells isolated by hyaluronidase incubation from chicken small intestine were used to study the effects of anisosmotic buffers on K+ transport. Hypo-osmolarity (200 mosmol.l-1) reduced both the ouabain-sensitive and the ouabain-resistant, but bumetanide-sensitive, net K+ influx and increased the K+ efflux. The hypo-osmolarity induced K+ efflux was prevented by quinine and unaffected by bumetanide. These results suggest that Ca2+-activated K+ channels may be involved in regulatory volume decrease in chicken enterocytes. Hyperosmotic conditions (400 mosmol.l-1) increased the portion of net K+ influx mediated by the Na+/K+-ATPase and that mediated by the bumetanide-sensitive K+ transport system, and decreased the K+ efflux.