Characteristics of EYFP-actin and visualization of actin dynamics during ATP depletion and repletion.

Disruption of the actin cytoskeleton in proximal tubule cells is a key pathophysiological factor in acute renal failure. To investigate dynamic alterations of the actin cytoskeleton in live proximal tubule cells, LLC-PK(10) cells were transfected with an enhanced yellow fluorescence protein (EYFP)-actin construct, and a clone with stable EYFP-actin expression was established. Confluent live cells were studied by confocal microscopy under physiological conditions or during ATP depletion of up to 60 min. Immunoblots of stable transfected LLC-PK(10) cells confirmed the presence of EYFP-actin, accounting for 5% of total actin. EYFP-actin predominantly incorporated in stress fibers, i.e., cortical and microvillar actin as shown by excellent colocalization with Texas red phalloidin. Homogeneous cytosolic distribution of EYFP-actin indicated colocalization with G-actin as well. Beyond previous findings, we observed differential subcellular disassembly of F-actin structures: stress fibers tagged with EYFP-actin underwent rapid and complete disruption, whereas cortical and microvillar actin disassembled at slower rates. In parallel, ATP depletion induced the formation of perinuclear EYFP-actin aggregates that colocalized with F-actin. During ATP depletion the G-actin fraction of EYFP-actin substantially decreased while endogenous and EYFP-F-actin increased. During intracellular ATP repletion, after 30 min of ATP depletion, there was a high degree of agreement between F-actin formation from EYFP-actin and endogenous actin. Our data indicate that EYFP-actin did not alter the characteristics of the endogenous actin cytoskeleton or the morphology of LLC-PK(10) cells. Furthermore, EYFP-actin is a suitable probe to study the spatial and temporal dynamics of actin cytoskeleton alterations in live proximal tubule cells during ATP depletion and ATP repletion.

Ischemic injury induces ADF relocalization to the apical domain of rat proximal tubule cells.

Breakdown of proximal tubule cell apical membrane microvilli is an early-occurring hallmark of ischemic acute renal failure. Intracellular mechanisms responsible for these apical membrane changes remain unknown, but it is known that actin cytoskeleton alterations play a critical role in this cellular process. Our laboratory previously demonstrated that ischemia-induced cell injury resulted in dephosphorylation and activation of the actin-binding protein, actin depolymerizing factor [(ADF); Schwartz, N, Hosford M, Sandoval RM, Wagner MC, Atkinson SJ, Bamburg J, and Molitoris BA. Am J Physiol Renal Fluid Electrolyte Physiol 276: F544-F551, 1999]. Therefore, we postulated that ischemia-induced ADF relocalization from the cytoplasm to the apical microvillar microfilament core was an early event occurring before F-actin alterations. To directly investigate this hypothesis, we examined the intracellular localization of ADF in ischemic rat cortical tissues by immunofluorescence and quantified the concentration of ADF in brush-border membrane vesicles prepared from ischemic rat kidneys by using Western blot techniques. Within 5 min of the induction of ischemia, ADF relocalized to the apical membrane region. The length of ischemia correlated with the time-related increase in ADF in isolated brush-border membrane vesicles. Finally, depolymerization of microvillar F-actin to G-actin was documented by using colocalization studies for G- and F-actin. Collectively, these data indicate that ischemia induces ADF activation and relocalization to the apical domain before microvillar destruction. These data further suggest that ADF plays a critical role in microvillar microfilament destruction and apical membrane damage during ischemia.

Ischemia activates actin depolymerizing factor: role in proximal tubule microvillar actin alterations.

Apical membrane of renal proximal tubule cells is extremely sensitive to ischemia, with structural alterations occurring within 5 min. These changes are felt secondary to actin cytoskeletal disruption, yet the mechanism responsible is unknown. Actin depolymerizing factor (ADF), a 19-kDa actin-binding protein, has recently been shown to play an important role in regulation of actin filament dynamics. Because ADF is known to mediate pH-dependent F-actin binding, depolymerization, and severing, and because ADF activation occurs by dephosphorylation, we questioned whether ADF played a role in microvilli microfilament disruption during ischemia. To test our hypothesis, we induced renal ischemia in the rat with the clamp model. Initial immunofluorescence and Western blot studies on cortical tissue documented the presence of ADF in proximal tubule cells. Under physiological conditions, ADF was distributed homogeneously throughout the cytoplasm, primarily in the Triton X-100-soluble fraction, and both phosphorylated (pADF) and nonphosphorylated forms were identified. During ischemia, marked alterations occurred. Intraluminal vesicle/bleb structures contained extremely high concentrations of ADF along with G-actin, but not F-actin. Western blot showed a rapidly occurring duration-dependent dephosphorylation of ADF. At 0-30 min of ischemia, total ADF levels were unchanged, whereas pADF decreased significantly to 72% and 19% of control levels, at 5 and 15 min, respectively. Urine collected under physiological conditions did not contain ADF or actin, whereas urine collected after 30 min of ischemia contained both ADF and actin. Reperfusion was associated with normalization of cellular pADF levels, pADF intracellular distribution, and repair of apical microvilli. These data suggest that activation of ADF during ischemia via dephosphorylation is, in part, responsible for apical actin disruption resulting in microvillar destruction and formation of intraluminal vesicles.

Cellular ATP depletion induces disruption of the spectrin cytoskeletal network.

Ischemia in vivo or ATP depletion in vitro result in disruption and cellular redistribution of the cortical F-actin cytoskeleton in epithelial cells. However, little is known regarding the effect of these two maneuvers on other components of the actin cytoskeleton. Because the spectrin (fodrin in epithelial cells)-based network links the actin cytoskeleton to the surface membrane, we have utilized a reversible model of ATP depletion in LLC-PK1 cells to study the effect of ATP depletion on fodrin and ankyrin. Under physiological conditions, both ankyrin and fodrin were largely Triton X-100 insoluble and colocalized immunofluorescently along the lateral membranes of LLC-PK1 cells. After ATP depletion, there was a rapid and duration-dependent increase in Triton X-100 solubility of both proteins. This was not true for villin and myosin 1, as Triton X-100 solubility was unaffected and reduced by ATP depletion, respectively. The increase in fodrin and ankyrin detergent solubility during ATP depletion was associated with cytosolic redistribution of the proteins, as determined using immunofluorescent techniques. Sucrose gradient fractionation and Western blot analysis of the Triton X-100-soluble fraction following ATP depletion revealed lack of association between fodrin and ankyrin. Furthermore, dual-label digital confocal immunofluorescent studies revealed lack of association of cytoplasmic ankyrin and fodrin following ATP depletion. Taken together, these data indicate that ATP depletion in LLC-PK1 cells leads to dissociation of both ankyrin and fodrin from the actin cytoskeleton. Furthermore, the two proteins dissociate from each other and redistribute throughout the cytoplasm.

ATP-stimulated tetraethylammonium transport by rabbit renal brush border membrane vesicles.

These studies examined the ability of ATP to stimulate transport of the organic cation tetraethylammonium (TEA) into proximal tubular brush border membrane vesicles. ATP markedly enhanced TEA uptake for 1 h or more to values severalfold above those observed in the absence of ATP. The poorly hydrolyzable analogue of ATP, AMP-PNP (adenyl-5'-yl imidodiphosphate), reduced the effect of ATP but alone did not stimulate TEA uptake. GTP and ITP also stimulated TEA uptake, whereas other nucleotides did not. ATP-stimulated TEA uptake was saturable, temperature-dependent, and markedly reduced by the organic cations amiloride, quinidine, cimetidine, and verapamil, but only modestly reduced by the organic cations N'-methylnicotinamide and choline. Some inhibitors of other transport ATPases, including N-ethylmaleimide, N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, and oligomycin, reduced the effect of ATP, whereas ouabain, vanadate, and azide did not. 4,4'-Diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid also reduced TEA uptake in the presence of ATP. Vinblastine, but not actinomycin D and colchicine (all inhibitors of P-glycoprotein-mediated transport), reduced TEA uptake. The reduction of TEA transport by amiloride and cimetidine was most consistent with competitive inhibition, whereas the inhibition produced by N-ethylmaleimide and vinblastine evidently was not. ATP also stimulated uptake of N'-methylnicotinamide but not that of vinblastine. These studies have identified a previously unrecognized process by which ATP hydrolysis may directly energize the reabsorption of organic cations from the renal tubule lumen.

Organic cation transport by rat hepatocyte basolateral membrane vesicles.

Hepatocyte basolateral membrane possesses transport systems for mediated uptake of organic cations, the first step in the subsequent biliary excretion and/or metabolism of these compounds. The purpose of these studies was to evaluate potential mechanisms for transport of this class of solutes across this membrane by measuring 3H-labeled tetraethylammonium ([3H]TEA) transport into rat hepatocyte basolateral membrane vesicles. [3H]TEA uptake was stimulated by an outwardly directed proton gradient consistent with TEA-proton exchange. Proton gradient-stimulated [3H]TEA uptake was inhibited by quinidine and by the combination of valinomycin and carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP) but not by CCCP alone or by N1-methylnicotinamide (NMN). An outwardly directed TEA gradient also stimulated uptake of [3H]TEA with values at early time points exceeding those at equilibrium. This trans-stimulation or countertransport was saturable with an apparent Michaelis constant of 106 microM and maximal velocity of 434 pmol.mg-1.15 s-1. TEA countertransport was cis-inhibited by quinidine, cimetidine, and thiamine and by low temperature, but not by NMN. Thiamine was also capable of trans-stimulating [3H]TEA uptake. An outwardly directed potassium gradient enhanced and an inwardly directed potassium gradient reduced TEA countertransport but had no effect on [3H]TEA uptake occurring in the absence of other electrochemical driving forces. These studies indicate that there are at least two potential mechanisms in the hepatocyte basolateral membrane for transport of organic cations; organic cation-organic cation exchange (countertransport) and organic cation-proton exchange. Furthermore, the results are consistent with the existence of more than one transporter with different substrate affinities in each of these categories.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Basolateral transport of tetraethylammonium by a clone of LLC-PK1 cells.

In these studies, a clone of cells derived from the porcine renal epithelial line LLC-PK1 grown on porous filters was used to evaluate basolateral uptake of the organic cation tetraethylammonium (TEA). (3H) TEA (1 microM) entered cells in a saturable and time-dependent manner achieving a steady-state value at 2 to 2.5 h. Uptake was reduced by hypothermia and the metabolic inhibitors sodium azide and iodoacetate. Several other organic cations in 1 mM concentrations inhibited the majority of TEA uptake. In lower concentrations, the inhibitory potency of these was: verapamil greater than cimetidine approximately amiloride approximately quinidine greater than procainamide approximately N1-methylnicotinamide. When sodium was replaced with potassium in the uptake medium, TEA uptake was also reduced consistent with electrogenic transport. However, uptake was reduced further by 1 mM cimetidine in the presence of both NaCl and KCl buffers. TEA uptake was not significantly different when the media pH was varied from 6.0 to 8.0. In addition, results of experiments in which intracellular pH was altered with NH4Cl were not consistent with the presence of organic cation/proton exchange. TEA/TEA exchange could not be demonstrated in experiments in which cells were preloaded with 1 mM nonradioactive TEA and uptake of (3H)TEA was measured or in which nonradioactive TEA in the external medium failed to enhance efflux from cells preloaded with (3H)TEA. These results indicate that the basolateral membrane of LLC-PKc10 cells has one or more transport processes for the mediated uptake of organic cations. However, the precise mechanism(s) involved in this transport remains to be elucidated.

Tetraethylammonium transport by OK cells.

Mechanisms exist in renal proximal tubules for the mediated transepithelial secretion or reabsorption of endogenous and exogenous organic cations. In the studies presented here, the uptake of the organic cation tetraethylammonium (TEA) into confluent monolayers of opossum kidney cells was evaluated to determine if these cells might serve as an in vitro model of this transport pathway. 3H-TEA entered opossum kidney cells in a time-dependent manner. Uptake at early time points was saturable with an apparent Km of 59.1 +/- 11.2 microM and a Vmax of 1,292 +/- 210 fmol/micrograms of DNA. TEA uptake was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by several other organic cations including amiloride, cimetidine, verapamil, procainamide, quinidine and N1-methylnicotinamide. With 1 mM concentrations of these compounds, uptake was virtually eliminated. However, another organic cation, N'-methylnicotinamide caused only minimal inhibition. TEA uptake was significantly reduced by sodium azide, suggesting dependence on oxidative phosphorylation. An alkaline medium pH enhanced TEA uptake, but, at the same pH, uptake was similar in the presence or absence of bicarbonate. When cellular pH was altered by ammonium chloride addition or removal, TEA uptake was not affected. Thus, organic cation/proton exchange, as has been demonstrated previously in apical membrane vesicles prepared from proximal tubules, is evidently not responsible for TEA uptake. Similarly, uptake does not appear to result from organic cation/organic cation exchange. These results indicate that the plasma membrane of opossum kidney cells contains a transport system(s) for the mediated uptake of organic cations and that these cells may be a useful mode for further study of renal epithelial transport of these solutes.

Potassium depletion increases luminal Na+/H+ exchange and basolateral Na+:CO3=:HCO3- cotransport in rat renal cortex.

Most HCO3- reabsorption in proximal tubules occurs via electroneutral Na+/H+ exchange in brush border membranes (BBMS) and electrogenic Na+:CO3=:HCO3- cotransport in basolateral membranes (BLMS). Since potassium depletion (KD) increases HCO3- reabsorption in proximal tubules, we evaluated these transport systems using BBM and BLM vesicles, respectively, from control (C) and KD rats. Feeding rats a potassium deficient diet for 3-4 wk resulted in lower plasma [K+] (2.94 mEq/liter, KD vs. 4.47 C), and higher arterial pH (7.51 KD vs. 7.39 C). KD rats gained less weight than C but had higher renal cortical weight. Influx of 1 mM 22Na+ at 5 s (pHo 7.5, pHi 6.0, 10% CO2, 90% N2) into BLM vesicles was 44% higher in the KD group compared to C with no difference in equilibrium uptake. The increment in Na+ influx in the KD group was DIDS sensitive, suggesting that Na+:CO3=:HCO3- cotransport accounted for the observed differences. Kinetic analysis of Na+ influx showed a Km of 8.2 mM in KD vs. 7.6 mM in C and Vmax of 278 nmol/min/mg protein in KD vs. 177 nmol/min/mg protein in C. Influx of 1 mM 22Na+ at 5 s (pHo 7.5, pHi 6.0) into BBM vesicles was 34% higher in the KD group compared to C with no difference in equilibrium uptake. The increment in Na+ influx in the KD group was amiloride sensitive, suggesting that Na+/H+ exchange was responsible for the observed differences. Kinetic analysis of Na+ influx showed a Km of 6.2 mM in KD vs. 7.1 mM in C and Vmax of 209 nmol/min/mg protein in KD vs. 144 nmol/min/mg protein in C. Uptakes of Na(+)-dependent [3H]glucose into BBM and [14C]succinate into BLM vesicles were not different in KD and C groups, suggesting that the Na+/H+ exchanger and Na+:CO3=:HCO3- cotransporter activities were specifically altered in KD. We conclude that adaptive increases in basolateral Na+:CO3=:HCO3- cotransport and luminal Na+H+ exchange are likely responsible for increased HCO3- reabsorption in proximal tubules of KD animals.