Importance of bicarbonate transport in pH control during amelogenesis - need for functional studies.

Dental enamel, the hardest mammalian tissue, is produced by ameloblasts. Ameloblasts show many similarities to other transporting epithelia although their secretory product, the enamel matrix, is quite different. Ameloblasts direct the formation of hydroxyapatite crystals, which liberate large quantities of protons that then need to be buffered to allow mineralization to proceed. Buffering requires a tight pH regulation and secretion of bicarbonate by ameloblasts. Many investigations have used immunohistochemical and knockout studies to determine the effects of these genes on enamel formation, but up till recently very little functional data were available for mineral ion transport. To address this, we developed a novel 2D in vitro model using HAT-7 ameloblast cells. HAT-7 cells can be polarized and develop functional tight junctions. Furthermore, they are able to accumulate bicarbonate ions from the basolateral to the apical fluid spaces. We propose that in the future, the HAT-7 2D system along with similar cellular models will be useful to functionally model ion transport processes during amelogenesis. Additionally, we also suggest that similar approaches will allow a better understanding of the regulation of the cycling process in maturation-stage ameloblasts, and the pH sensory mechanisms, which are required to develop sound, healthy enamel.

Ca2+-activated Cl- channels can substitute for CFTR in stimulation of pancreatic duct bicarbonate secretion.

This study addresses the mechanisms by which a defect in CFTR impairs pancreatic duct bicarbonate secretion in cystic fibrosis. We used control (PANC-1) and CFTR-deficient (CFPAC-1; DeltaF508 mutation) cell lines and measured HCO3- extrusion by the rate of recovery of intracellular pH after an alkaline load and recorded whole cell membrane currents using patch clamp techniques. 1) In PANC-1 cells, cAMP causes parallel activation of Cl- channels and of HCO3- extrusion by DIDS-sensitive and Na+-independent Cl-/HCO3- exchange, both effects being inhibited by Cl- channel blockers NPPB and glibenclamide. 2) In CFPAC-1 cells, cAMP fails to stimulate Cl-/HCO3- exchange and Cl- channels, except after promoting surface expression of DeltaF508-CFTR by glycerol treatment. Instead, raising intracellular Ca2+ concentration to 1 micromol/l or stimulating purinergic receptors with ATP (10 and 100 micromol/l) leads to parallel activation of Cl- channels and HCO3- extrusion. 3) K+ channel function is required for coupling cAMP- and Ca2+-dependent Cl- channel activation to effective stimulation of Cl-/HCO3- exchange in control and CF cells, respectively. It is concluded that stimulation of pancreatic duct bicarbonate secretion via Cl-/HCO3- exchange is directly correlated to activation of apical membrane Cl- channels. Reduced bicarbonate secretion in cystic fibrosis results from defective cAMP-activated Cl- channels. This defect is partially compensated for by an increased sensitivity of CF cells to purinergic stimulation and by alternative activation of Ca2+-dependent Cl- channels, mechanisms of interest with respect to possible treatment of cystic fibrosis and of related chronic pancreatic diseases.

Purinergic regulation of acid/base transport in human and rat biliary epithelial cell lines.

Biliary epithelial cells (cholangiocytes) are responsible for rapid regulation of bile volume and alkalinity. Secretin and other hormones raising intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) concentrations promote biliary HCO3 secretion by stimulating apical Cl- channels and Cl-/HCO3- exchange (AE2). Cholangiocyte ion transport may also be stimulated by locally acting mediators; for example, adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP), a secretagogue that can be released into the bile by hepatocytes and cholangiocytes, activates Cl- conductances and Na+/H+ exchange (NHE) in cholangiocyte cell lines. To further explore the role of extracellular ATP in the paracrine regulation of carrier mechanisms regulating cholangiocyte H+/HCO3- secretion, we investigated the effects of nucleotides on intracellular pH regulation (measured by microfluorimetry with 2'7'-bis(2-carboxyethyl)-5,6,carboxyfluorescein [BCECF]) in human (MZ-ChA-1) and rat (NRC-1) cholangiocyte cell lines. In MZ-ChA-1 cells, 10 mol/L ATP, uridine 5'-triphosphate (UTP), and ATPgammas significantly increased NHE activity. The pharmacological profile of agonists was consistent with that anticipated for receptors of the P2Y2 class. ATP did not increase AE2 activity, but, when given to cells pretreated with agents raising intracellular cAMP, had a synergistic stimulatory effect that was inhibited by amiloride. To assess the polarity of purinergic receptors, monolayers of NRC-1 cells were exposed to apical or basolateral nucleotides. Apical administration of purinergic agonists, but not adenosine, increased basolateral NHE activity (ATPgammaS > UTP > ATP). Basolateral administration of purinergic agonists induced a weaker activation of NHE, which was instead strongly stimulated by adenosine and by adenosine receptor agonists (NECA = R-PIA = S-PIA). In conclusion, this study demonstrates that, consistent with the proposed role for biliary ATP in paracrine and autocrine control of cholangiocyte ion secretion, extracellular ATP stimulates cholangiocyte basolateral NHE activity through P2Y2 receptors that are predominantly expressed at the apical cell membrane.

Na(+)-dependent and -independent Cl-/HCO-3 exchange mediate cellular HCO3- transport in cultured human intrahepatic bile duct cells.

Biliary epithelial cells (cholangiocytes) modulate bile fluidity and alkalinity absorbing and/or secreting fluid and electrolytes, particularly HCO3- and Cl-. Mechanisms responsible for transepithelial H+/HCO3- secretion in human cholangiocytes are largely unknown. Human cholangiocytes isolated by enzymatic digestion and immunomagnetic purification from normal liver tissue obtained from reduced grafts used for pediatric liver transplantation were cultured in the presence of human hepatocyte growth factor. Maintenance of cholangiocyte phenotypic features was assessed using markers such as cytokeratin 19, gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase, vimentin, factor VIII-related antigen, desmin, epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), and human epithelial antigen (HEA) 125. Intracellular pH (pHi) transients were measured microfluorimetrically 2'7'-Bis(2-carboxyethyl)-5,6, carboxyfluorescein-acetossimethylester (BCECF). In the absence of HCO3-, pHi recovery from an intracellular acid load (ammonia pre-pulse technique) was Na(+)-dependent and amiloride-inhibitable. No Na(+)-independent recovery was recorded even after stimulation with agents raising intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) concentrations. In the presence of HCO3-, recovery from an intracellular acid load required Na+, but was only partly inhibited by amiloride. In these conditions H+ extrusion was inhibited by 4,4-diisothiocyan atostilben-2,2-disulfonic acid (DIDS) and by intracellular Cl- depletion. Acute removal of extracellular Cl induced a pHi alkalinization that was inhibited by DIDS. pHi recovery from an intracellular alkaline load (isohydric CO2 changes) was Cl(-)-dependent and DIDS-inhibitable. Administration of agents raising intracellular cAMP concentrations increased both Na(+)-dependent and Na(+)-independent Cl-/HCO-3 exchange activity. Stimulation of Cl-/HCO3- exchange activity was not prevented by the Cl- channel inhibitor 5'-nitro-2(2)-phenylpropyl-amino-benzoate(NPPB). In conclusion, human cholangiocytes possess two acid extruders (Na+/H+exchanger and Na(+)-dependent Cl-/HCO3- exchange) and an acid loader (Cl-/HCO3- exchange), whereas no evidence was found for cAMP activated H(+)-ATPase. Bicarbonate influx is thus mainly mediated by Na-dependent Cl-/HCO3- exchange, whereas Na+:HCO-3 cotransport is not active in the physiological range of pHi. Stimulation of Na(+)-independent Cl-/HCO3- exchanger by cAMP does not require activation of Cl- conductances. These mechanisms may underlay hormone-regulated biliary HCO3- secretion in the human biliary tree.

Intracellular pH regulation in Hep G2 cells: effects of epidermal growth factor, transforming growth factor-alpha, and insulinlike growth factor-II on Na+/H+ exchange activity.

Intracellular pH (pHi) plays an important role in the metabolic activation of quiescent cells after a proliferative stimulus, and Na+/H+ exchange activity is required for growth in some extrahepatic tumors. To investigate intracellular acid/base homeostasis in hepatoma cells and the effects of putative liver growth factors on Na+/h+ exchange activity, we have studied intracellular pH (pHi) regulation in Hep G2 cells, a well-differentiated hepatoma cell line, both in resting conditions and after administration of epidermal growth factor (EGF), transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF alpha), and insulinlike growth factor-II (IGF-II). The effects of fetal calf serum, TGF alpha, and amiloride on 3H-Thymidine incorporation were also studied. Amiloride (1 mmol/L) and external Na+ removal decreased baseline pHi in both HEPES and KRB. In HEPES, cells recovered from an acid load (20 mmol/L NH4Cl) by an amiloride inhibitable Na+/H+ exchange. In KRB, an additional, DIDS-inhibitable, Na(+)- and HCO3- dependent, but Cl(-)-independent acid extruder (Na:HCO3 cotransport) was activated. No evidence was found for a Cl/HCO3 exchange acting as acid loader. Administration of EGF and TGF alpha, but not of IGF-II, induced a dose-dependent, amiloride-inhibitable increase in baseline pHi, together with an increase in Na+/H+ exchange activity, shifting to the right the JH/pHi curve. Finally, 3H-thymidine incorporation in Hep G2 cells, in the presence of FCS or TGF alpha, was strongly inhibited by amiloride. In conclusion, in Hep G2 cells, pHi is mainly regulated by Na+/H+ exchange, which activity can be stimulated by EGF and TGF alpha, but not by IGF-II. Administration of TGF alpha stimulates DNA synthesis, an effect that is blocked by amiloride, an inhibitor of Na+/H+ exchanger. These data suggest that Na+/H+ exchange activation may play a critical role in the growth of some hepatic tumors.