Angiotensin II: a candidate for an aldosterone-independent mediator of potassium preservation during volume depletion

Paracrine and endocrine regulation of renal potassium secretion

The seminal studies conducted by Giebisch and colleagues in the 1960s paved the way for understanding the renal mechanisms involved in K+ homeostasis. It was demonstrated that differential handling of K+ in the distal segments of the nephron is crucial for proper K+ balance. Although aldosterone had been classically ascribed as the major ion transport regulator in the distal nephron, thereby contributing to K+ homeostasis, it became clear that aldosterone per se could not explain the kidney's ability to modulate kaliuresis in both acute and chronic settings. The existence of alternative kaliuretic and antikaliuretic mechanisms was suggested by physiological studies in the 1980s but only gained form and shape with the advent of molecular biology. It is now established that the kidneys recruit several endocrine and paracrine mechanisms for adequate kaliuretic response. These mechanisms include the direct effects of peritubular K+, a gut-kidney regulatory axis sensing dietary K+ levels, the kidney secretion of kallikrein during postprandial periods, the upregulation of angiotensin II receptors in the distal nephron during chronic changes in the K+ diet, and the local increase of prostaglandins by low K+ diet. This review discusses recent advances in the understanding of endocrine and paracrine mechanisms underlying the modulation of K+ secretion and how these mechanisms impact kaliuresis and K+ balance. We also highlight important unknowns about the regulation of renal K+ excretion under physiological circumstances.

The Mineralocorticoid Receptor in Salt-Sensitive Hypertension and Renal Injury

Hypertension and its comorbidities pose a major public health problem associated with disease-associated factors related to a modern lifestyle, such high salt intake or obesity. Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that aldosterone and its receptor, the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR), have crucial roles in the development of salt-sensitive hypertension and coexisting cardiovascular and renal injuries. Accordingly, clinical trials have repetitively shown the promising effects of MR blockers in these diseases. We and other researchers have identified novel mechanisms of MR activation involved in salt-sensitive hypertension and renal injury, including the obesity-derived overproduction of aldosterone and ligand-independent signaling. Moreover, recent advances in the analysis of cell-specific and context-dependent mechanisms of MR activation in various tissues-including a classic target of aldosterone, aldosterone-sensitive distal nephrons-are now providing new insights. In this review, we summarize recent updates to our understanding of aldosterone-MR signaling, focusing on its role in salt-sensitive hypertension and renal injury.

Two Mineralocorticoid Receptor-Mediated Mechanisms of Pendrin Activation in Distal Nephrons

BACKGROUND

Regulation of sodium chloride transport in the aldosterone-sensitive distal nephron is essential for fluid homeostasis and BP control. The chloride-bicarbonate exchanger pendrin in β-intercalated cells, along with sodium chloride cotransporter (NCC) in distal convoluted tubules, complementarily regulate sodium chloride handling, which is controlled by the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system.

METHODS

Using mice with mineralocorticoid receptor deletion in intercalated cells, we examined the mechanism and roles of pendrin upregulation via mineralocorticoid receptor in two different models of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system activation. We also used aldosterone-treated NCC knockout mice to examine the role of pendrin regulation in salt-sensitive hypertension.

RESULTS

Deletion of mineralocorticoid receptor in intercalated cells suppressed the increase in renal pendrin expression induced by either exogenous angiotensin II infusion or endogenous angiotensin II upregulation via salt restriction. When fed a low-salt diet, intercalated cell-specific mineralocorticoid receptor knockout mice with suppression of pendrin upregulation showed BP reduction that was attenuated by compensatory activation of NCC. In contrast, upregulation of pendrin induced by aldosterone excess combined with a high-salt diet was scarcely affected by deletion of mineralocorticoid receptor in intercalated cells, but depended instead on hypokalemic alkalosis through the activated mineralocorticoid receptor-epithelial sodium channel cascade in principal cells. In aldosterone-treated NCC knockout mice showing upregulation of pendrin, potassium supplementation corrected alkalosis and inhibited the pendrin upregulation, thereby lowering BP.

CONCLUSIONS

In conjunction with NCC, the two pathways of pendrin upregulation, induced by angiotensin II through mineralocorticoid receptor activation in intercalated cells and by alkalosis through mineralocorticoid receptor activation in principal cells, play important roles in fluid homeostasis during salt depletion and salt-sensitive hypertension mediated by aldosterone excess.

The sodium chloride cotransporter SLC12A3: new roles in sodium, potassium, and blood pressure regulation

SLC12A3 encodes the thiazide-sensitive sodium chloride cotransporter (NCC), which is primarily expressed in the kidney, but also in intestine and bone. In the kidney, NCC is located in the apical plasma membrane of epithelial cells in the distal convoluted tubule. Although NCC reabsorbs only 5 to 10% of filtered sodium, it is important for the fine-tuning of renal sodium excretion in response to various hormonal and non-hormonal stimuli. Several new roles for NCC in the regulation of sodium, potassium, and blood pressure have been unraveled recently. For example, the recent discoveries that NCC is activated by angiotensin II but inhibited by dietary potassium shed light on how the kidney handles sodium during hypovolemia (high angiotensin II) and hyperkalemia. The additive effect of angiotensin II and aldosterone maximizes sodium reabsorption during hypovolemia, whereas the inhibitory effect of potassium on NCC increases delivery of sodium to the potassium-secreting portion of the nephron. In addition, great steps have been made in unraveling the molecular machinery that controls NCC. This complex network consists of kinases and ubiquitinases, including WNKs, SGK1, SPAK, Nedd4-2, Cullin-3, and Kelch-like 3. The pathophysiological significance of this network is illustrated by the fact that modification of each individual protein in the network changes NCC activity and results in salt-dependent hypotension or hypertension. This review aims to summarize these new insights in an integrated manner while identifying unanswered questions.

K+-induced natriuresis is preserved during Na+ depletion and accompanied by inhibition of the Na+-Cl- cotransporter

During hypovolemia and hyperkalemia, the kidneys defend homeostasis by Na(+) retention and K(+) secretion, respectively. Aldosterone mediates both effects, but it is unclear how the same hormone can evoke such different responses. To address this, we mimicked hypovolemia and hyperkalemia in four groups of rats with a control diet, low-Na(+) diet, high-K(+) diet, or combined diet. The low-Na(+) and combined diets increased plasma and kidney ANG II. The low-Na(+) and high-K(+) diets increased plasma aldosterone to a similar degree (3-fold), whereas the combined diet increased aldosterone to a greater extent (10-fold). Despite similar Na(+) intake and higher aldosterone, the high-K(+) and combined diets caused a greater natriuresis than the control and low-Na(+) diets, respectively (P < 0.001 for both). This K(+)-induced natriuresis was accompanied by a decreased abundance but not phosphorylation of the Na(+)-Cl(-) cotransporter (NCC). In contrast, the epithelial Na(+) channel (ENaC) increased in parallel with aldosterone, showing the highest expression with the combined diet. The high-K(+) and combined diets also increased WNK4 but decreased Nedd4-2 in the kidney. Total and phosphorylated Ste-20-related kinase were also increased but were retained in the cytoplasm of distal convoluted tubule cells. In summary, high dietary K(+) overrides the effects of ANG II and aldosterone on NCC to deliver sufficient Na(+) to ENaC for K(+) secretion. K(+) may inhibit NCC through WNK4 and help activate ENaC through Nedd4-2.

Effects of angiotensin II on kinase-mediated sodium and potassium transport in the distal nephron

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The aim is to review the recently reported effects of angiotensin II (Ang II) on sodium and potassium transport in the aldosterone-sensitive distal nephron, including the signaling pathways between receptor and transporter, and the (patho)physiological implications of these findings.

RECENT FINDINGS

Ang II can activate the sodium chloride cotransporter (NCC) through phosphorylation by Ste20-related, proline-alanine rich kinase (SPAK), an effect that is independent of aldosterone but dependent on with no lysine kinase 4 (WNK4). A low-sodium diet (high Ang II) activates NCC, whereas a high-potassium diet (low Ang II) inhibits NCC. NCC activation also contributes to Ang-II-mediated hypertension. Ang II also activates the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) additively to aldosterone, and this effect appears to be mediated through protein kinase C and superoxide generation by nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase. While aldosterone activates the renal outer medullary potassium channel (ROMK), this channel is inhibited by Ang II. The key kinase responsible for this effect is c-Src, which phosphorylates ROMK and leaves WNK4 unphosphorylated to further inhibit ROMK.

SUMMARY

The effects of Ang II on NCC, ENaC, and ROMK help explain the renal response to hypovolemia which is to conserve both sodium and potassium. Pathophysiologically, Ang-II-induced activation of NCC appears to contribute to salt-sensitive hypertension.

Aldosterone does not require angiotensin II to activate NCC through a WNK4-SPAK-dependent pathway

We and others have recently shown that angiotensin II can activate the sodium chloride cotransporter (NCC) through a WNK4–SPAK-dependent pathway. Because WNK4 was previously shown to be a negative regulator of NCC, it has been postulated that angiotensin II converts WNK4 to a positive regulator. Here, we ask whether aldosterone requires angiotensin II to activate NCC and if their effects are additive. To do so, we infused vehicle or aldosterone in adrenalectomized rats that also received the angiotensin receptor blocker losartan. In the presence of losartan, aldosterone was still capable of increasing total and phosphorylated NCC twofold to threefold. The kinases WNK4 and SPAK also increased with aldosterone and losartan. A dose-dependent relationship between aldosterone and NCC, SPAK, and WNK4 was identified, suggesting that these are aldosterone-sensitive proteins. As more functional evidence of increased NCC activity, we showed that rats receiving aldosterone and losartan had a significantly greater natriuretic response to hydrochlorothiazide than rats receiving losartan only. To study whether angiotensin II could have an additive effect, rats receiving aldosterone with losartan were compared with rats receiving aldosterone only. Rats receiving aldosterone only retained more sodium and had twofold to fourfold increase in phosphorylated NCC. Together, our results demonstrate that aldosterone does not require angiotensin II to activate NCC and that WNK4 appears to act as a positive regulator in this pathway. The additive effect of angiotensin II may favor electroneutral sodium reabsorption during hypovolemia and may contribute to hypertension in diseases with an activated renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system.