Modulation of sulfate renal transport by alterations in cell membrane fluidity

Effects of intense noise exposure on the outer hair cell plasma membrane fluidity

Outer hair cells (OHCs) play an important role in cochlear amplification via their length changes (electromotility). A noise-induced cochlear amplification loss leading to a permanent threshold shift (PTS) was observed without a significant hair cell loss in rats [Chen, G.D., Liu, Y., 2005. Mechanisms of noise-induced hearing loss potentiation by hypoxia. Hear. Res. 200, 1-9.]. Since motor proteins are inserted in the OHC lateral membrane, any change in the OHC plasma membrane may result in a loss of OHC electromotility, leading to a loss of cochlear amplification. In this study, the lateral diffusion in the OHC plasma membrane was determined in vitro in guinea pigs by fluorescent recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) after an in vivo noise exposure. The lateral diffusion in the OHC plasma membrane demonstrated a length-dependence, which increased as OHC length increased. A reduction in the lateral diffusion was observed in those OHCs with lengths of 50-70 microm after exposure to an 8-kHz octave band noise at 110 dB SPL for 3h. This membrane fluidity change was associated with the selective PTS at frequencies around 8 kHz. The reduction of the lateral diffusion in the OHC lateral wall indicated that noise could impair the micromechanics of the OHC lateral wall and might consequently impair OHC electromotility to induce threshold shift.

Alterations in neuronal transport but not blood-brain barrier transport are observed during gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) sedative/hypnotic tolerance

PURPOSE

To investigate if gamma-Hydroxybutyrate (GHB) tolerance is mediated by alterations in GHB systemic pharmacokinetics, transport (blood brain barrier (BBB) and neuronal) or membrane fluidity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

GHB tolerance in rats was attained by repeated GHB administration (5.31 mmol/kg, s.c., QD for 5 days). GHB sedative/hypnotic effects were measured daily. GHB pharmacokinetics were determined on day 5. In separate groups, on day 6, in situ brain perfusion was performed to assess BBB transport alterations; or in vitro studies were performed (fluorescence polarization measurements of neuronal membrane fluidity or [3H]GABA neuronal accumulation).

RESULTS

GHB sedative/hypnotic tolerance was observed by day 5. No significant GHB pharmacokinetic or BBB transport differences were observed between treated and control rats. Neuronal membrane preparations from GHB tolerant rats showed a significant decrease in fluorescence polarization (treated-0.320 +/- 0.009, n = 5; control-0.299 +/- 0.009, n = 5; p < 0.05). [3H]GABA neuronal transport Vmax was significantly increased in tolerant rats (2,110.66 +/- 91.06 pmol/mg protein/min vs control (1,612.68 +/- 176.03 pmol/mg protein/min; n = 7 p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Short term GHB administration at moderate doses results in the development of tolerance which is not due to altered systemic pharmacokinetics or altered BBB transport, but might be due to enhanced membrane rigidity and increased GABA reuptake.

Raman microspectrometry of laser-reshaped rabbit auricular cartilage: preliminary study on laser-induced cartilage mineralization

Laser-assisted cartilage reshaping (LACR) is a relatively novel technique designed to noninvasively and permanently restructure cartilaginous tissue. It is believed that heat-induced stress relaxation, in which a temperature-mediated disruption of H2O binding is associated with conformational alterations in the proteoglycan and collagen-rich matrix, constitutes the underlying mechanism of LACR. Several reports have suggested that laser-mediated cartilage mineralization may contribute to the permanent shape change of laser-reshaped cartilage. In an effort to validate these results in the context of Er:glass LACR, we performed a preliminary Raman microspectrometric study to characterize the crystal deposits in laser-irradiated chondrocytes and extracellular matrix. For the first time, we identified intracellular calcium sulfate deposits and extracellular calcium phosphate (apatite) crystals in laser-reshaped rabbit auricular cartilage. Calcium carbonate deposits are localized in both irradiated and nonirradiated samples, suggesting that this mineral plays no role in conformational retention. In our discussion, we elaborate on the possible molecular and cellular mechanisms responsible for intra- and extracellular crystallization, and propose a novel hypothesis on the formation of apatite, inasmuch as the biological function of this mineral (providing structure and rigidity in bones and dental enamel) may be extrapolated to the permanent shape change of laser-irradiated cartilage.

Oxidative stress induced by Cremophor EL is not accompanied by changes in NF-kappaB activation or iNOS expression

The effects of polyoxyethylenglycerol triricinoleate 35 (Cremophor EL, CrEL) on markers of oxidative stress, nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) activation and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression were studied in the liver of male Wistar rats. Animals were randomly divided into three groups. Group Cr1 received, i.p., CrEL at 0.046ml/kg daily for 7 days, group Cr2 received CrEL at 0.33ml/kg and the controls were injected with CrEL vehicle (saline solution with 25% ethanol). Both alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) serum activities were significantly increased in the Cr2 group (+16% and +25%, respectively). AST activity was also higher in the Cr1 group when compared to control animals (+20%). The cytosolic concentration of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) increased in both groups of rats receiving CrEL (Cr1: +24%; Cr2: +33%). Reduced glutathione (GSH) concentration was not significantly modified at any of the CrEL doses, but both the hepatic concentration of oxidised glutathione (GSSG) (Cr1: +37%; Cr2: +84%) and the GSH/GSSG ratio (Cr1: -21%; Cr2: -45%) were significantly modified. CrEL induced no significant NF-kappaB activation, changes in p50 and p65 NF-kappaB subunits or induction of iNOS protein. Data obtained indicate that although high doses of CrEL cause oxidative stress, this is not enough to induce changes in NF-kappaB activation or iNOS expression.

Absorption enhancement, mechanistic and toxicity studies of medium chain fatty acids, cyclodextrins and bile salts as peroral absorption enhancers

The objective of the present investigation was to evaluate an oral 'drug delivery' approach, which involves co-administration of absorption enhancers (AEs). The representative low permeable hydrophilic (biopharmaceutic classification system (BCS) Class III) drugs used in the study comprised of cefotaxime sodium and ceftazidime pentahydrate, whereas low permeable lipophilic (BCS Class IV) drugs include cyclosporin A and lovastatin. AEs from three different chemical classes, namely, medium chain fatty acids (sodium caprylate and caprate), cyclodextrins (beta-cyclodextrin, hydroxypropyl beta-cyclodextrin) and bile salts (sodium cholate and deoxycholate) were evaluated for absorption enhancement efficacy, mechanism of action and toxicity using in vitro everted intestinal sac model. These AEs were found to enhance intestinal permeability of drugs from 2- to 27-fold. Light microscopy studies of intestinal sac incubated with AEs for 120 min revealed morphological changes in absorptive mucosa and rank order of toxicity were cyclodextrins>bile salts congruent with medium chain fatty acids. Fluorescence polarization studies indicated that brush bordered membrane vesicles labeled with lipophilic (DPH, 12AS) and hydrophilic dyes (ANS), when treated with AEs exhibited concentration and time dependent decrease in fluorescence polarization. Total protein released in presence of AEs was more than control but considerably less than EDTA (0.58% w/v), which is known to cause toxic release of proteins from cell. Overall, AEs were found to significantly enhance drug permeability by decreasing lipid membrane fluidity and/or interacting with hydrophilic domains of membrane, and has the potential to improve oral delivery.

Acute and chronic changes in cholesterol modulate Na-Pi cotransport activity in OK cells

We previously showed an inverse correlation between membrane cholesterol content and Na-P(i) cotransport activity during the aging process and adaptation to alterations in dietary P(i) in the rat (Levi M, Jameson DM, and van der Meer BW. Am J Physiol Renal Fluid Electrolyte Physiol 256: F85-F94, 1989). The purpose of the present study was to determine whether alterations in cholesterol content per se modulate Na-P(i) cotransport activity and apical membrane Na-P(i) protein expression in opossum kidney (OK) cells. Acute cholesterol depletion achieved with beta-methyl cyclodextrin (beta-MCD) resulted in a significant increase in Na-P(i) cotransport activity accompanied by a moderate increase in apical membrane Na-P(i) protein abundance and no alteration of total cellular Na-P(i) protein abundance. Conversely, acute cholesterol enrichment achieved with beta-MCD/cholesterol resulted in a significant decrease in Na-P(i) cotransport activity with a moderate decrease in apical membrane Na-Pi protein abundance and no change of the total cellular Na-P(i) protein abundance. In contrast, chronic cholesterol depletion, achieved by growing cells in lipoprotein-deficient serum (LPDS), resulted in parallel and significant increases in Na-P(i) cotransport activity and apical membrane and total cellular Na-P(i) protein abundance. Cholesterol depletion also resulted in a significant increase in membrane lipid fluidity and alterations in lipid microdomains as determined by laurdan fluorescence spectroscopy and imaging. Chronic cholesterol enrichment, achieved by growing cells in LPDS followed by loading with low-density lipoprotein, resulted in parallel and significant decreases in Na-P(i) cotransport activity and apical membrane and total cellular Na-P(i) protein abundance. Our results indicate that in OK cells acute and chronic alterations in cholesterol content per se modulate Na-P(i) cotransport activity by diverse mechanisms that also include significant interactions of Na-P(i) protein with lipid microdomains.

Gender differences in the membrane transport of endogenous and exogenous compounds

Gender differences have been well described in pharmacokinetics and contribute to the interindividual variation in drug disposition, therapeutic response, and drug toxicity. Sex-related differences in the membrane transport of endogenous substrates and xenobiotics have been reported in various organs of the body including kidney, liver, intestine, and brain. These gender-related differences in transport systems could also contribute to interindividual variability in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. This review will focus on current knowledge of gender-associated differences in the transport of endogenous and exogenous compounds in a variety of body organs and will discuss the implications and the clinical significance of these observations.

Transepithelial sulfate transport by avian renal proximal tubule epithelium in primary culture

The mechanisms and control of transepithelial inorganic sulfate (Si) transport by primary cultures of chick renal proximal tubule monolayers in Ussing chambers were determined. The competitive anion, S2 O 3 2- (5 mM), reduced both unidirectional reabsorptive and secretory fluxes and net Si reabsorption with no effect on electrophysiological properties. The carbonic anhydrase (CA) inhibitor ethoxzolamide decreased net Si reabsorption approximately 45%. CAII protein and activity were detected in isolated chick proximal tubules by immunoblots and biochemical assay, respectively. Cortisol reduced net Si reabsorption up to approximately 50% in a concentration-dependent manner. Thyroid hormone increased net Si reabsorption threefold in 24 h, and parathyroid hormone (PTH) acutely stimulated net Si reabsorption approximately 45%. These data indicate that CA participates in avian proximal tubule active transepithelial Si reabsorption, which cortisol directly inhibits and T3 and PTH directly stimulate.

Effects of nonionic surfactants on membrane transporters in Caco-2 cell monolayers

The objectives of this study were (1) to investigate the transporter inhibition activity of three nonionic surfactants on P-glycoprotein, the human intestinal peptide transporter, and the monocarboxylic acid transporter in Caco-2 cell monolayers, and (2) to evaluate the role of membrane fluidity and protein kinase C in surfactant-induced transporter inhibition. All three surfactants inhibited P-glycoprotein (P-gp). Over a range from 0 to 1 mM, Tween 80 and Cremophor EL increased apical-to-basolateral permeability (AP-BL) and decreased basolateral-to-apical (BL-AP) permeability of the P-gp substrate rhodamine 123. Vitamin E TPGS's effect was equally large, but essentially only reduced the BL-AP permeability of rhodamine 123, and did so at a vitamin E TPGS concentration of only 0.025 mM. These P-gp inhibition effects would appear to be related to these excipients' modulation of membrane fluidity, where Tween 80 and Cremophor EL fluidized cell lipid bilayers, while vitamin E TPGS rigidized lipid bilayers. However, among the three surfactants, only Tween 80 inhibited the peptide transporter, as measured by glycyl sarcosine permeability. Likewise, only Cremophor EL inhibited the monocarboxylic acid transporter, as measured by benzoic acid permeability. Nevertheless, at least one of these three surfactants inhibited each P-gp, the human intestinal peptide transporter, and the monocarboxylic acid transporter. A common functional feature of these three surfactants was their ability to modulate fluidity, although results indicate that even strong membrane fluidity modulation alone was not sufficient to reduce transporter activity. N-octyl glucoside, a nonionic surfactant that did not modulate membrane fluidity, did not affect transporter functioning. Protein kinase C inhibitors failed to affect rhodamine 123 and glycyl sarcosine permeability, suggesting protein kinase C inhibition was not the mechanism of transporter inhibition. These results suggest that surfactants can inhibit multiple transporters but that changes in membrane fluidity may not be a generalized mechanism to reduce transporter activity.

Physiological roles and regulation of mammalian sulfate transporters

All cells require inorganic sulfate for normal function. Sulfate is among the most important macronutrients in cells and is the fourth most abundant anion in human plasma (300 microM). Sulfate is the major sulfur source in many organisms, and because it is a hydrophilic anion that cannot passively cross the lipid bilayer of cell membranes, all cells require a mechanism for sulfate influx and efflux to ensure an optimal supply of sulfate in the body. The class of proteins involved in moving sulfate into or out of cells is called sulfate transporters. To date, numerous sulfate transporters have been identified in tissues and cells from many origins. These include the renal sulfate transporters NaSi-1 and sat-1, the ubiquitously expressed diastrophic dysplasia sulfate transporter DTDST, the intestinal sulfate transporter DRA that is linked to congenital chloride diarrhea, and the erythrocyte anion exchanger AE1. These transporters have only been isolated in the last 10-15 years, and their physiological roles and contributions to body sulfate homeostasis are just now beginning to be determined. This review focuses on the structural and functional properties of mammalian sulfate transporters and highlights some of regulatory mechanisms that control their expression in vivo, under normal physiological and pathophysiological states.

Molecular aspects of renal tubular handling and regulation of inorganic sulfate

The renal proximal tubular reabsorption of sulfate plays an important role in the maintenance of sulfate homeostasis. Two different renal sulfate transport systems have been identified and characterized at the molecular level in the past few years: NaSi-1 and Sat-1. NaSi-1 belongs to a Na(+)-coupled transporter family comprising the Na(+)-dicarboxylate transporters and the recently characterized SUT1 sulfate transporter. NaSi-1 is a Na(+)-sulfate cotransporter located exclusively in the brush border membrane of renal proximal tubular and ileal cells. Recently, NaSi-1 was shown to be regulated at the protein and mRNA level by a number of factors, such as vitamin D, dietary sulfate, glucocorticoids and thyroid hormones, which are known to modulate sulfate reabsorption in vivo. The second member of renal sulfate transporters, denoted Sat-1, belongs to a family of Na+-independent sulfate transporter family comprising the DTDST, DRA and PDS genes. Sat-1 is a sulfate/bicarbonate-oxalate exchanger located at the basolateral membrane of proximal tubular epithelial cells and canalicular surface of hepatic cells. Contrary to NaSi-1, no physiological factor has been found to date to regulate Sat-1 gene expression. Both NaSi-1 and Sat-1 transporter activities are implicated in pathophysiological states such as heavy metal intoxication and chronic renal failure. This review focuses on recent developments in the molecular characterization of NaSi-1 and Sat-1 and the mechanisms involved in their regulation.

Hormonal regulation of sodium/sulfate co-transport in renal epithelial cells

Serum sulfate concentrations are elevated in infants, young children, and pregnant women due, at least in part, to increased renal sulfate reabsorption. Little is known about the effects of hormones, particularly those involved in growth, development, and pregnancy, on renal sulfate reabsorption. The objective of this investigation was to examine the effects of growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), progesterone (PG), and 17beta-estradiol (EST) on renal sodium/sulfate co-transport. 35S-sulfate uptake was determined in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK)/NaSi-1 cells (MDCK cells that have been stably transfected with rat sodium/sulfate co-transporter (NaSi-1) cDNA) and in opossum kidney (OK) cells. NaSi-1 mRNA was determined by RT-PCR and protein levels by ELISA. GH (0.1 nM) significantly increased the sodium/sulfate co-transport in MDCK/NaSi-1 cells up to 35%. IGF-1 induced a concentration-related stimulation of the sodium/sulfate co-transport with a maximal response observed at 1000 nM (59% increase). Sodium-dependent sulfate uptake was significantly increased when cells were preincubated with 10 nM PG, 10 nM EST, or 10 nM PG/10 nM EST up to 41%, 46%, or 39%, respectively. OK cells exhibited endogenous sodium-dependent sulfate transport; significantly increased sodium/sulfate co-transport was also observed in OK cells that were preincubated with GH, IGF-1, and PG/EST, although not with EST alone. The NaSi-1 mRNA and NaSi-1 protein levels were significantly increased in MDCK/NaSi-1 cells treated with 0.1 nM GH, 100 nM IGF-1, 10 nM PG, and/or 10 nM EST compared with control. These results suggest that the increased renal sulfate reabsorption that occurs in neonates, young and pregnant humans, and animals could be mediated by the increased steady-state levels of NaSi-1 mRNA produced by the higher plasma concentrations of GH, IGF-1, or PG/EST.

Molecular mechanisms of renal sulfate regulation

Inorganic sulfate is an important physiological anion that is a required cofactor for sulfate conjugation reactions of both endogenous and exogenous compounds. It is necessary for the detoxification of xenobiotics and endogenous compounds (catecholamines, steroids, bile acids), for the synthesis of structural components of membranes and tissues (sulfated glycosaminoglycans), and for the biologic activity of endogenous compounds (heparin and cholecystokinin). Inorganic sulfate homeostasis is largely maintained by reabsorption in the renal proximal tubule. Sodium-dependent sulfate cotransport in the brush border membrane is of primary importance in the regulation of plasma inorganic sulfate concentrations. Altered renal reabsorption of sulfate has been observed under different physiological (age, pregnancy, low dietary intake), pathological (hypothyroidism, trace metal excess), and pharmacological conditions (treatment with nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents). The recent identification of the sulfate transporter genes has allowed the investigation of the molecular mechanisms of altered sulfate transport. Although the regulation of sulfate homeostasis is not fully understood, recent investigations have explored the cellular mechanisms of some of these alterations. In this review, the physiological importance of inorganic sulfate, the availability of this anion, and the regulation of sulfate homeostasis are discussed.