Navigating the multifaceted intricacies of the Na+-Cl- cotransporter, a highly regulated key effector in the control of hydromineral homeostasis

The Na+-Cl- cotransporter (NCC; SLC12A3) is a highly regulated integral membrane protein that is known to exist as three splice variants in primates. Its primary role in the kidney is to mediate the cosymport of Na+ and Cl- across the apical membrane of the distal convoluted tubule. Through this role and the involvement of other ion transport systems, NCC allows the systemic circulation to reclaim a fraction of the ultrafiltered Na+, K+, Cl-, and Mg+ loads in exchange for Ca2+ and [Formula: see text]. The physiological relevance of the Na+-Cl- cotransport mechanism in humans is illustrated by several abnormalities that result from NCC inactivation through the administration of thiazides or in the setting of hereditary disorders. The purpose of the present review is to discuss the molecular mechanisms and overall roles of Na+-Cl- cotransport as the main topics of interest. On reading the narrative proposed, one will realize that the knowledge gained in regard to these themes will continue to progress unrelentingly no matter how refined it has now become.

Multiple Facets and Roles of Na+-K+-Cl−Cotransport: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Implications

The Na+-K+-Cl−cotransporters play key physiological and pathophysiological roles by regulating the membrane potential of many cell types and the movement of fluid across a variety of epithelial or endothelial structures. As such, they should soon become invaluable targets for the treatment of various disorders including pain, epilepsy, brain edema, and hypertension. This review highlights the nature of these roles, the mechanisms at play, and the unresolved issues in the field.

K+-Cl- cotransporter 1 (KCC1): a housekeeping membrane protein that plays key supplemental roles in hematopoietic and cancer cells

During the 1970s, a Na+-independent, ouabain-insensitive, N-ethylmaleimide-stimulated K+-Cl- cotransport mechanism was identified in red blood cells for the first time and in a variety of cell types afterward. During and just after the mid-1990s, three closely related isoforms were shown to account for this mechanism. They were termed K+-Cl- cotransporter 1 (KCC1), KCC3, and KCC4 according to the nomenclature of Gillen et al. (1996) who had been the first research group to uncover the molecular identity of a KCC, that is, of KCC1 in rabbit kidney. Since then, KCC1 has been found to be the most widely distributed KCC isoform and considered to act as a housekeeping membrane protein. It has perhaps received less attention than the other isoforms for this reason, but as will be discussed in the following review, there is probably more to KCC1 than meets the eye. In particular, the so-called housekeeping gene also appears to play crucial and specific roles in normal as well as pathological hematopoietic and in cancer cells.

Physiological roles and molecular mechanisms of K+ -Cl- cotransport in the mammalian kidney and cardiovascular system: where are we?

In the early 80s, renal microperfusion studies led to the identification of a basolateral K⁺ -Cl^- cotransport mechanism in the proximal tubule, thick ascending limb of Henle and collecting duct. More than ten years later, this mechanism was found to be accounted for by three different K⁺ -Cl^- cotransporters (KCC1, KCC3 and KCC4) that are differentially distributed along the renal epithelium. Two of these isoforms (KCC1 and KCC3) were also found to be expressed in arterial walls, the myocardium and a variety of neurons. Subsequently, valuable insights have been gained into the molecular and physiological properties of the KCCs in both the mammalian kidney and cardiovascular system. There is now robust evidence indicating that KCC4 sustains distal renal acidification and that KCC3 regulates myogenic tone in resistance vessels. However, progress in understanding the functional significance of these transporters has been slow, probably because each of the KCC isoforms is not identically distributed among species and some of them share common subcellular localizations with other KCC isoforms or sizeable conductive Cl^- pathways. In addition, the mechanisms underlying the process of K⁺ -Cl^- cotransport are still ill defined. The present review focuses on the knowledge gained regarding the roles and properties of KCCs in renal and cardiovascular tissues.

Molecular insights into the normal operation, regulation, and multisystemic roles of K+-Cl- cotransporter 3 (KCC3)

Long before the molecular identity of the Na+-dependent K+-Cl- cotransporters was uncovered in the mid-nineties, a Na+-independent K+-Cl- cotransport system was also known to exist. It was initially observed in sheep and goat red blood cells where it was shown to be ouabain-insensitive and to increase in the presence of N-ethylmaleimide (NEM). After it was established between the early and mid-nineties, the expressed sequence tag (EST) databank was found to include a sequence that was highly homologous to those of the Na+-dependent K+-Cl- cotransporters. This sequence was eventually found to code for the Na+-independent K+-Cl- cotransport function that was described in red blood cells several years before. It was termed KCC1 and led to the discovery of three isoforms called KCC2, KCC3, and KCC4. Since then, it has become obvious that each one of these isoforms exhibits unique patterns of distribution and fulfills distinct physiological roles. Among them, KCC3 has been the subject of great attention in view of its important role in the nervous system and its association with a rare hereditary sensorimotor neuropathy (called Andermann syndrome) that affects many individuals in Quebec province (Canada). It was also found to play important roles in the cardiovascular system, the organ of Corti, and circulating blood cells. As will be seen in this review, however, there are still a number of uncertainties regarding the transport properties, structural organization, and regulation of KCC3. The same is true regarding the mechanisms by which KCC3 accomplishes its numerous functions in animal cells.

Ion transport and ligand binding by the Na-K-Cl cotransporter, structure-function studies

The cation-Cl cotransporters (CCCs) mediate the coupled movement of Na and/or K to that of Cl across the plasmalemma of animal cells. Eight CCCs have been identified to date: two Na-K-Cl cotransporters (NKCC), four K-Cl cotransporters (KCCs), one Na-Cl cotransporter (NCC) and one CCC interacting protein (CIP). All of the NKCCs and KCCs are inhibited by loop diuretics; mercury and other modifying agents are also known to block NKCC-mediated transport. In this work, we have utilized a mutational approach to study the interaction between different substrates and the NKCCs. We relied on the strategy of exchanging domains between functionally distinct carriers (the shark NKCCl and the human NKCCl) to identify residues or group of residues that are involved in the interaction with ions, loop diuretics and Hg. Our results show that the N- and C-termini have no role in determining the species differences in ion transport and bumetanide binding. On the other hand, the interaction between Hg and the NKCCs is found to partially involve the C-terminus through residues that contain available sulfhydryl groups. Within the transmembrane segments, variant residues in the 2nd, 4th and 7th predicted alpha-helices are shown to encode the differences in ion transport between the shark and the human cotransporters. For loop diuretic binding, several regions throughout the central domain appear to be involved. Interestingly, these regions are not the same as those involved in cation or anion transport, and in Hg binding.

Mycophenolate mofetil, an alternative to cyclosporine A for long-term immunosuppression in kidney transplantation?

BACKGROUND

Mycophenolate-mofetil (MMF) is a nonnephrotoxic immunosuppressant most often used in combination with cyclosporine A (CsA) and prednisone (Pred). This study reports the outcome of 17 adult renal recipients whose immunosuppressive regimen was changed from CsA-Pred to MMF-Pred because of CsA nephrotoxicity.

METHODS

CsA nephrotoxicity was diagnosed in all patients based on suggestive histopathological lesions on a renal biopsy. Sixteen patients had deteriorating graft function and 1 had isolated persistent proteinuria. Immunosuppressive therapy was changed 57+/-32 months posttransplant.

RESULTS

After replacement of CsA by MMF, a reduction in serum creatinine was observed in all patients (mean 26+/-17%). This reduction was maintained 20+/-8 months after the change in therapy without any episodes of acute rejection. Serum lipids and blood pressure also decreased significantly.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates that MMF-Pred can be an effective long-term immunosuppressive treatment alternative for renal transplant patients experiencing CsA nephrotoxicity. Such treatment may result in improved graft function, and better control of hypertension and hyperlipidemia.

Cloning and functional characterization of a cation-Cl- cotransporter-interacting protein

To date, the cation-Cl(-) cotransporter (CCC) family comprises two branches of homologous membrane proteins. One branch includes the Na(+)-K(+)-Cl(-) cotransporters (NKCCs) and the Na(+)-Cl(-) cotransporter, and the other branch includes the K(+)-Cl(-) cotransporters. Here, we have isolated the first member of a third CCC family branch. This member shares approximately 25% identity in amino acid sequence with each of the other known mammalian CCCs. The corresponding cDNA, obtained from a human heart library and initially termed WO(3.3), encodes a 914-residue polypeptide of 96.2 kDa (calculated mass). Sequence analyses predict a 12-transmembrane domain (tm) region, two N-linked glycosylation sites between tm(5) and tm(6), and a large intracellular carboxyl terminus containing protein kinase C phosphorylation sites. Northern blot analysis uncovers an approximately 3.7-kilobase pair transcript present in muscle, placenta, brain, and kidney. With regard to function, WO(3. 3) expressed either in HEK-293 cells or Xenopus laevis oocytes does not increase Rb(+)-, Na(+)-, and Cl(-)-coupled transport during 5- or 6-h fluxes, respectively. In the oocyte, however, WO(3.3) specifically inhibits human NKCC1-mediated (86)Rb(+) flux. In addition, coimmunoprecipitation studies using lysates from WO(3. 3)-transfected HEK-293 cells suggest a direct interaction of WO(3.3) with endogenous NKCC. Thus, we have cloned and characterized the first putative heterologous CCC-interacting protein (CIP) known at present. CIP1 may be part of a novel family of proteins that modifies the activity or kinetics of CCCs through heterodimer formation.

Inhibition of Na(+)-K(+)-2Cl(-) cotransport by mercury

Mercury alters the function of proteins by reacting with cysteinyl sulfhydryl (SH(-)) groups. The inorganic form (Hg(2+)) is toxic to epithelial tissues and interacts with various transport proteins including the Na(+) pump and Cl(-) channels. In this study, we determined whether the Na(+)-K(+)-Cl(-) cotransporter type 1 (NKCC1), a major ion pathway in secretory tissues, is also affected by mercurial substrates. To characterize the interaction, we measured the effect of Hg(2+) on ion transport by the secretory shark and human cotransporters expressed in HEK-293 cells. Our studies show that Hg(2+) inhibits Na(+)-K(+)-Cl(-) cotransport, with inhibitor constant (K(i)) values of 25 microM for the shark carrier (sNKCC1) and 43 microM for the human carrier. In further studies, we took advantage of species differences in Hg(2+) affinity to identify residues involved in the interaction. An analysis of human-shark chimeras and of an sNKCC1 mutant (Cys-697-->Leu) reveals that transmembrane domain 11 plays an essential role in Hg(2+) binding. We also show that modification of additional SH(-) groups by thiol-reacting compounds brings about inhibition and that the binding sites are not exposed on the extracellular face of the membrane.

Mutagenic mapping of the Na-K-Cl cotransporter for domains involved in ion transport and bumetanide binding

The human and shark Na-K-Cl cotransporters (NKCCs) are 74% identical in amino acid sequence yet they display marked differences in apparent affinities for the ions and bumetanide. In this study, we have used chimeras and point mutations to determine which transmembrane domains (tm's) are responsible for the differences in ion transport and in inhibitor binding kinetics. When expressed in HEK-293 cells, all the mutants carry out bumetanide-sensitive 86Rb influx. The kinetic behavior of these constructs demonstrates that the first seven tm's contain all of the residues conferring affinity differences. In conjunction with our previous finding that tm 2 plays an important role in cation transport, the present observations implicate the fourth and seventh tm helices in anion transport. Thus, it appears that tm's 2, 4, and 7 contain the essential affinity-modifying residues accounting for the human-shark differences with regard to cation and anion transport. Point mutations have narrowed the list of candidates to 13 residues within the three tm's. The affinity for bumetanide was found to be affected by residues in the same tm 2-7 region, and also by residues in tm's 11 and 12. Unlike for the ions, changes in bumetanide affinity were nonlinear and difficult to interpret: the Ki(bumetanide) of a number of the constructs was outside the range of sNKCC1 and hNKCC1 Kis.

Immunochemical characterization of Na+/H+ exchanger isoform NHE4

Mammalian Na+/H+ exchangers (NHEs) are a family of transport proteins (NHE1-NHE5). To date, the cellular and subcellular localization of NHE4 has not been characterized using immunochemical techniques. We purified a fusion protein containing a portion of rat NHE4 (amino acids 565-675) to use as immunogen. A monoclonal antibody (11H11) was selected by ELISA. It reacted specifically with both the fusion protein and to a 60- to 65-kDa polypeptide expressed in NHE4-transfected LAP1 cells. By Western blot analysis, NHE4 was identified as a 65- to 70-kDa protein that was expressed most abundantly in stomach and in multiple additional epithelial and nonepithelial rat tissues including skeletal muscle, heart, kidney, uterus, and liver. Subcellular localization of NHE4 in the kidney was evaluated by Western blot analysis of membrane fractions isolated by Percoll gradient centrifugation. NHE4 was found to cofractionate with the basolateral markers NHE1 and Na+-K+-ATPase rather than the luminal marker gamma-glutamyl transferase. In stomach, NHE4 was detected by immunoperoxidase labeling on the basolateral membrane of cells at the base of the gastric gland. We conclude that NHE4 is a 65- to 70-kDa protein with a broad tissue distribution. In two types of epithelial cells, kidney and stomach, NHE4 is localized to the basolateral membrane.

The role of transmembrane domain 2 in cation transport by the Na-K-Cl cotransporter

The human and shark Na-K-Cl cotransporters (NKCC), although 74% identical in amino acid sequence, exhibit marked differences in ion transport and bumetanide binding. We have utilized shark-human chimeras of NKCC1 to search for regions that confer the kinetic differences. Two chimeras (hs3.1 and its reverse sh3.1) with a junction point located at the beginning of the third transmembrane domain were examined after stable transfection in HEK-293 cells. Each carried out bumetanide-sensitive 86Rb influx with cation affinities intermediate between shark and human cotransporters. In conjunction with the previous finding that the N and C termini are not responsible for differences in ion transport, the current observations identify the second transmembrane domain as playing an important role. Site-specific mutagenesis of two pairs of residues in this domain revealed that one pair is indeed involved in the difference in Na affinity, and a second pair is involved in the difference in Rb affinity. Substitution of the same residues with corresponding residues from NKCC2 or the Na-Cl cotransporter resulted in cation affinity changes, consistent with the hypothesis that alternative splicing of transmembrane domain 2 endows different versions of NKCC2 with unique kinetic behaviors. None of the changes in transmembrane domain 2 was found to substantially affect Km(Cl), demonstrating that the affinity difference for Cl is specified by the region beyond predicted transmembrane domain 3. Finally, unlike Cl, bumetanide binding was strongly affected by shark-human replacement of transmembrane domain 2, indicating that the bumetanide-binding site is not the same as the Cl-binding site.

Comparison of Na-K-Cl cotransporters. NKCC1, NKCC2, and the HEK cell Na-L-Cl cotransporter

The Na-K-Cl cotransporter (NKCC) mediates the coupled movement of ions into most animal cells, playing important roles in maintenance of cell volume and in epithelial Cl transport. Two forms of NKCC have been described: NKCC1, the "housekeeping" isoform that is also responsible for Cl accumulation in secretory epithelial cells, and NKCC2, which mediates apical Na+K+Cl entry into renal epithelial cells. Here we examine the kinetic properties of NKCC1, NKCC2, and the endogenous HEK-293 cell cotransporter. Stable expression of rabbit NKCC2A was obtained in HEK-293 cells utilizing a chimera (h1r2A0.7) in which the 5'-untranslated region and cDNA encoding 104 amino acids of the N terminus are replaced by the corresponding sequence of NKCC1. h1r2A0.7 exhibits Na and Cl affinities near those of NKCC1, but it has a 4-fold lower Rb affinity, and a 3-fold higher affinity for the inhibitor bumetanide. The activity of h1r2A0.7 is increased on incubation in low [Cl] media as is NKCC1, but the resting level of activity is higher in h1r2A0.7 and activation is more rapid. h1r2A0.7 exhibits an appropriate volume response, unlike NKCC1 for which concomitant changes in [Cl]i appear to be the overriding factor. These results support a model in which apical NKCC2 activity is matched to basolateral Cl exit through changes in [Cl]i. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction of HEK-293 cell mRNA is positive with NKCC1 primers and negative with NKCC2 primers. Surprisingly, we found that the behavior of the endogenous HEK cell Na-K-Cl cotransporter is unlike either of the two forms which have been described: compared with NKCC1, HEK cell cotransporter has a 2.5-fold lower Na affinity, an 8-fold lower Rb affinity, and a 4-fold higher bumetanide affinity. These results suggest the presence of a novel isoform of NKCC in HEK-293 cells.

Ion and bumetanide binding by the Na-K-Cl cotransporter. Importance of transmembrane domains

The Na-K-Cl cotransporter (NKCC) plays a key role in electrolyte secretion and absorption across polarized epithelia. The structure of the Na-K-Cl cotransporter transport protein is not known, but from analysis of the primary amino acid sequence and biochemical studies, it has been inferred that the protein has large cytoplasmic N and C termini and a hydrophobic central domain containing 12 transmembrane helices. Both the central domain and the C-terminal domain are highly conserved within the cation-chloride cotransporter family. This paper examines the role of these three domains in interacting with the transported ions and with the inhibitor bumetanide. We have used a chimera approach, exploiting the functional differences between the structurally similar shark and human secretory Na-K-Cl cotransporters (sNKCC1 and hNKCC1). These transporters are 74% identical to one another and have similar transport and regulatory behaviors; however, sNKCC1 differs markedly from hNKCC1 with regard to apparent affinities for the cotransported ions and for bumetanide. We prepared six sNKCC1-hNKCC1 chimeras in which N and C termini were interchanged between species. When transfected in HEK-293 cells, each chimera carried out bumetanide-sensitive 86Rb influx, demonstrating transporter synthesis and cell surface delivery. Monoclonal antibodies J3 and J7 were used to detect the chimeric proteins, and the epitopes for these antibodies were localized to residues 49-196 and 1050-1168, respectively, in the shark sequence. For each of two chimeras that were examined, the time course of activation in low Cl- medium was the same as for the parent proteins; activation was found to proceed through a change in Vmax rather than Km. For the six chimeras, the apparent affinities for Na+, K+, Cl-, and bumetanide segregated exactly according to whether the large hydrophobic central domain was derived from sNKCC1 or hNKCC1. Significantly, the well-conserved C terminus does not appear to contain residues involved in the shark-human affinity differences. These results demonstrate that residues involved with ion translocation and inhibitor binding are within the large central domain that contains the 12 predicted transmembrane helices.

Lithium poisoning treated by high-performance continuous arteriovenous and venovenous hemodiafiltration

Intermittent hemodialysis is considered the modality of choice when enhanced lithium removal is indicated. However, postdialysis rebound in serum lithium concentration is frequently observed after the dialysis sessions and results from incomplete intracellular removal. Continuous renal replacement therapy could provide a more gradual and complete lithium removal since it is performed over longer time periods, thus avoiding rebound following therapy. Seven patients presenting with symptomatic lithium intoxication were treated by continuous renal replacement therapy (continuous arteriovenous and venovenous hemodiafiltration [CAVHDF and CVVHDF]). For CAVHDF, the dialysate flow rate was increased to 4 L/hr to optimize solute clearances. Five intoxicated patients (four acute and one chronic) were treated by high dialysate flow rate (HDFR) (4 L/hr) CAVHDF and two patients with chronic poisoning were treated by CVVHDF, one with a dialysate flow rate of 1 L/hr and one with a dialysate flow rate of 2 L/hr. Serum lithium concentrations for the four acute poisoning cases were 4.0, 4.6, 4.4, and 3.2 mEq/L, at initiation of HDFR CAVHDF, and decreased respectively to 1.2, 0.8, 1.2, and 1.1 mEq/L after 15, 19, 35, and 21 hours of treatment. No lithium rebound was observed over 24 to 36 hours following CAVHDF. For the three chronic intoxication cases, serum lithium concentrations dropped from 1.7, 2.2, and 3.8 mEq/L to 0.7, 0.17, and 0.4 mEq/L, respectively, after 18, 42, and 44 hours of HDFR CAVHDF or CVVHDF. The chronic case treated for only 18 hours presented a slight rebound in lithium level (0.3 mEq/L), whereas no significant rebound was observed for the two other cases treated for longer periods. Mean +/- SEM dialyser urea, lithium, and creatinine clearance during HDFR CAVHDF were 50.5 +/- 5.0, 41.4 +/- 4.6, and 37.6 +/- 3.7 mL/min, respectively (number of measurements = 41). Dialyser lithium clearance during CVVHDF was 48.4 +/- 1.4 mL/min (n = 10) and 61.9 +/- 2.3 mL/min (n = 7), with dialysate flow rates of 1 and 2 L/hr, respectively. Mean dialyzer lithium removal for the seven cases was 106.4 mEq, while mean renal lithium removal was 21.5 mEq during the same period. We conclude that HDFR CAVHDF and CVVHDF are effective alternatives to intermittent hemodialysis for treatment of lithium poisoning. They provide excellent lithium clearances (60 to 85 L/d); in addition, because of their continuous nature, they prevent posttherapy lithium rebound by allowing a more gradual and complete removal from intracellular compartments, and they may be particularly useful in chronic poisoning in which intracellular lithium accumulation is more extensive.

Eicosanoid modulation of the norepinephrine effect on blood pressure and renal hemodynamics in humans

The main objective of this study was to investigate the role of eicosanoids in modulating the effect of norepinephrine (NE) on blood pressure and renal hemodynamics during NE administration. Eight healthy volunteers were randomly assigned to three (1 week apart) infusion periods (180 min) with either dextrose 5% or NE, with or without indomethacin pretreatment. Pressor doses of NE induced marked alterations in renal hemodynamics and concomitant increases in eicosanoid excretion rates. The production of the vasodilatory prostacyclin (PGI2), as reflected in the excretion rate of the stable metabolites 6-keto-prostaglandin (PG)F1(alpha) and 2,3-dinor-6-keto-PGF1(alpha), was 2.7 times higher than that of the constrictor thromboxane (TX)A2, which was measured as the stable derivative TXB2. Indomethacin pretreatment blunted the NE-induced augmentation in eicosanoid excretion and resulted in further increases in arterial pressure and in renal vascular resistance. These results demonstrate that PGI2 attenuates the systemic and the renal hemodynamic vasoconstrictor effect of NE in normotensive control normal subjects.

Endocrine sodium and volume regulation in familial hyperkalemia with hypertension

The hormonal regulation of sodium and volume homeostasis was investigated in three patients (two related) with the syndrome of familial hyperkalemic acidosis and hypertension with normal glomerular filtration rate. Recumbent plasma renin activity was low during normal sodium intake (135 mmol daily), and the response to upright posture or to low sodium diet (10 mmol daily) was blunted. Recumbent plasma aldosterone levels were normal in two patients and high in one, and the standing values were elevated in one; responses to upright posture were brisk on low sodium diet. Angiotensin II infusion induced a marked increase in plasma aldosterone. Plasma atrial natriuretic peptide was at the upper limit of normal during normal sodium intake, decreased during diuretic therapy, and increased during sodium chloride infusion in one patient. Basal urinary prostaglandin E2, prostaglandin F2 alpha, and 6-ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha excretion rates were decreased, and thromboxane B2 was increased. Total blood and plasma volumes were subnormal, whereas extracellular fluid volume and exchangeable sodium values were close to or above (in one patient) the mean normal values. Chronic treatment with hydrochlorothiazide in two patients corrected the hyperkalemic acidosis and hypertension, but on its discontinuation (in one patient) all biochemical abnormalities promptly reappeared.