Sex and salt hormones: rapid effects in epithelia.

Recent evidence points to protein kinase C isoforms as highly specific receptors for aldosterone and estradiol in epithelia. The end targets of the kinase activation are Na(+)/H(+) exchange and K(+) and Ca(2+) channels. The physiological role of the nongenomic response is to increase electrolyte absorption and inhibit secretion in pluripotential epithelia.

17beta-oestradiol acutely regulates Cl- secretion in rat distal colonic epithelium.

In this study we used the short circuit current (ISC) technique to measure the non-genomic effects of the female sex steroid 17beta-oestradiol (E2) on electrogenic transepithelial ion transport in rat distal colonic epithelium. Basal ISC was largely composed of a transepithelial Cl- secretory component with minimal electrogenic Na+ movement. E2 (1-100 nM) caused a significant decrease in basal ISC after 15 min. In addition, pre-treating colonic epithelial tissues with E2 (0.1-100 nM) for 10 min significantly reduced forskolin (20 microM)-induced Cl- secretion. E2 also down-regulated Cl- secretion which was pre-stimulated by forskolin. Cl- secretory responses to the Ca2+-dependent secretagogue carbachol (10 microM) were also significantly reduced in the presence of E2 (10- 100 nM). However, E2 had no effect on amiloride-sensitive Na+ absorption. The rapid anti-secretory effect of E2 was abolished in the presence of the intracellular Ca2+ chelator BAPTA (50 microM) or the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor chelerythrine chloride (1 microM). However, in the presence of the nuclear oestrogen receptor antagonist tamoxifen (10 microM), E2 still produced an inhibition of Cl- secretion. Testosterone, progesterone and 17alpha-oestradiol had no significant effect on colonic Cl- secretion. Also, E2 (100 nM) did not alter Cl- secretion in colonic epithelia isolated from male rats. We conclude that E2 inhibits colonic Cl- secretion via a non-genomic pathway that involves intracellular Ca2+ and PKC. It is possible that this gender-specific mechanism contributes to the salt and water retention associated with high E2 states.

Rapid non-genomic activation of cytosolic cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity and [Ca(2+)](i) by 17beta-oestradiol in female rat distal colon.

1. In this study, the effect of 17beta-oestradiol on adenosine 3' : 5'-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic AMP)-dependent protein kinase (PKA) activity was investigated. 2. Rapid (within 15 min) activation of basal PKA activity was observed in cytosolic fractions by 17beta-oestradiol but not by 17alpha-oestradiol, progesterone or testosterone. This stimulation was abolished by the specific PKA inhibitor PKI but not by the classical oestrogen receptor antagonist tamoxifen. 3. 17beta-Oestradiol did not stimulate basal PKA activity in membrane fractions or in cytosolic fractions from male rats. 4. The increase in cytosolic PKA activity was indirect as (i) it was inhibited by the adenylyl cyclase inhibitor SQ22536, (ii) it was mimicked by forskolin and (iii) 17beta-oestradiol did not cause a stimulation of basal PKA activity in either type I or type II commercially available PKA holoenzymes. 5. Protein kinase Cdelta (PKCdelta) was directly activated by 17beta-oestradiol. The specific PKC inhibitor, bisindolylmaleimide I (GF 109203X), abolished the 6. 17beta-oestradiol-induced PKA activation. 17beta-Oestradiol stimulate an increase in free intracellular calcium ion concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) in isolated female but not male rat colonic crypts. This was inhibited by verapamil, nifedipine and zero extracellular [Ca(2+)] but unaffected by tamoxifen. 17alpha-Oestradiol, testosterone and progesterone failed to increase [Ca(2+)](i). 7. PKC and PKA inhibitors abolished the 17beta-oestradiol-induced increase in [Ca(2+)](i). 8. These results demonstrate the existence of a novel 17beta-oestradiol-specific PKA and Ca(2+) signalling pathway, which is both sex steroid- and gender-specific, in rat distal colonic epithelium.

Rapid responses to aldosterone in human distal colon.

Aldosterone at normal physiological levels induces rapid increases in intracellular calcium and pH in human distal colon. The end target of these rapid signaling responses are basolateral K+ channels. Using spectrofluorescence microscopy and Ussing chamber techniques, we have shown that aldosterone activates basolateral Na/H exchange via a protein kinase C and calcium-dependent signaling pathway. The resultant intracellular alkalinization up-regulates an adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-dependent K+ channel (K(ATP)) and inhibits a Ca2+ -dependent K+ channel (K(Ca)). In Ussing chamber experiments, we have shown that the K(ATP) channel is required to drive sodium absorption, whereas the K(Ca) channel is necessary for both cyclic adenosine monophosphate and calcium-dependent chloride secretion. The rapid effects of aldosterone on intracellular calcium, pH, protein kinase C and K(ATP), K(Ca) channels are insensitive to cycloheximide, actinomycin D, and spironalactone, indicating a nongenomic mechanism of action. We propose that the physiological role for the rapid nongenomic effect of aldosterone is to prime pluripotential epithelia for absorption by simultaneously up-regulating K(ATP) channels to drive absorption through surface cells and down-regulating the secretory capacity by inhibiting K(Ca) channels involved in secretion through crypt cells.

Rapid effects of corticosteroids on cytosolic protein kinase C and intracellular calcium concentration in human distal colon.

Recent studies from our laboratory have reported rapid (< 1 min) non-genomic activation of potassium recycling, Na+-H+ exchange, protein kinase C (PKC) activity and PKC-sensitive Ca2+ entry by mineralocorticoids in mammalian distal colonic epithelium. Previous studies from other laboratories have described stimulation of the Na+-H+ exchanger by PKC activation. Here a rapid non-genomic effect of aldosterone on PKC activity and intracellular free calcium [Ca2+]i is demonstrated in human distal colonic epithelium. Rapid activation (after 15 min incubation) of basal PKC activity was observed in cytosolic fractions of human colonic epithelium by aldosterone, fludrocortisone and deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA). PKC activation was inhibited by the specific PKC inhibitor bisindolylmaleimide (GF109203X). The glucocorticoid hydrocortisone failed to activate PKC activity. Aldosterone induced a rapid increase in [Ca2+]i in isolated human colonic crypts. This stimulatory effect on [Ca2+]i was inhibited by the PKC inhibitor chelerythrine chloride. Hydrocortisone and dexamethasone similarly failed to increase [Ca2+]i. These results indicate that intracellular signalling for aldosterone involves changes in [Ca2+]i via activation of PKC. Since stimulation of PKC activity and increase in [Ca2+]i are apparent at normal circulating levels of aldosterone, our findings may have important physiological implications and prompt a reassessment of mineralocorticoid effects on electrolyte homeostasis.

Rapid effects of steroid hormones on free intracellular calcium in T84 colonic epithelial cells.

Studies from our laboratory have demonstrated rapid (< 1 min) nongenomic activation of K+ recycling and Na+/H+ exchange by mineralocorticoids in human colonic epithelium, and studies from other laboratories have demonstrated rapid effects of aldosterone on intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in endothelial cells. Here a rapid nongenomic effect of aldosterone on [Ca2+]i is demonstrated in the human colonic epithelial cell line T84. Aldosterone induced a rapid increase in [Ca2+]i within approximately 2 min. The rise in [Ca2+]i after aldosterone appears to result from the activation of a Ca2+ influx pathway, inasmuch as 1) no increase in [Ca2+]i was observed with aldosterone when cells were bathed in Ca(2+)-free Krebs solution and 2) emptying of the intracellular Ca2+ stores by thapsigargin was not enhanced by addition of aldosterone to extracellular Ca(2+)-free solution. In contrast, the Ca2+ response to aldosterone, in the presence of 2 mM Ca2+ in the external bathing solution, was not decreased after intracellular Ca2+ stores were emptied by thapsigargin. Other mineralocorticoid hormones increased [Ca2+]i, whereas the glucocorticoid hydrocortisone failed to increase [Ca2+]i. These results demonstrate the existence of a mineralocorticoid-specific Ca(2+)-signaling pathway in human colonic T84 (crypt) epithelial cells.

Modulation of cytosolic protein kinase C and calcium ion activity by steroid hormones in rat distal colon.

Studies from our laboratory have demonstrated rapid (<1 min) non-genomic activation of Na+-H+ exchange and potassium recycling by mineralocorticoids in human and rat colonic epithelium. It has previously been demonstrated that Na+-H+ exchange may be stimulated by protein kinase C (PKC) activation; therefore, we examined the effect of mineralocorticoids on PKC activity in rat colonic epithelium. Activation (after 15 min of incubation) of basal PKC activity was observed in cytosolic fractions of rat colonic epithelium by aldosterone, fludrocortisone, and deoxycorticosterone acetate. In all instances, PKC activation was inhibited by the PKC inhibitor bisindolylmaleimide (GF109203X). Hydrocortisone failed to activate PKC activity. Stimulation of basal intracellular free calcium [Ca2+]i was observed, in isolated rat colonic crypts, following aldosterone addition. This stimulatory effect was inhibited by the PKC inhibitor, chelerythrine chloride. Hydrocortisone failed to increase [Ca2+]i. These results indicate that intracellular signaling for aldosterone involves changes in [Ca2+]i via activation of PKC. Since the stimulation of PKC and increase in [Ca2+]i are apparent at normal circulating levels of aldosterone, our findings have major implications for the reassessment of mineralocorticoid effects on electrolyte homeostasis.

Inhibition by fatty acids of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity in brush border membranes isolated from human placental vesicles.

1. The inhibitory effects of arachidonic acid (AA) and a number of structurally related fatty acids on cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity have been investigated in brush border membranes (BBM) prepared from human placental vesicles. 2. BBM vesicles were characterized by electron microscopy and displayed enrichment of the appropriate marker enzymes, alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase; BBM were prepared by vesicles lysis in hypotonic medium. 3. Cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) activity was measured in BBM. At 1 microM, cyclic AMP stimulated a 4.2 +/- 0.06 fold increase over basal levels of [32P]-phosphate incorporation into the synthetic substrate kemptide and this effect was abolished by a selective PKA inhibitor. By use of synergistic pairs of site-selective cyclic AMP analogues, the kinase was identified as the type II enzyme. 4. Cyclic AMP-stimulated PKA activity was inhibited by 10 microM AA and this effect was significantly enhanced by nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) + indomethacin (Indo), inhibitors of the lipoxygenase and cyclo-oxygenase pathways of AA metabolism respectively. 5. Oleic acid, elaidic acid, but not caprylic or palmitic acids, also significantly inhibited PKA activity and this effect was again enhanced by NDGA + Indo. While arachidonyl alcohol alone was not inhibitory, in the presence of the metabolic inhibitors a significant reduction in stimulated activity was observed. 6. The commercially available PKA type II holoenzyme (activated by cyclic AMP), but not the free catalytic subunit, was inhibitable by AA, oleic or elaidic acids. 7. These results suggest that PKA localized to the brush border membrane of human placental vesicles is inhibited by fatty acids which may compete with cyclic AMP for binding to the kinase regulatory subunit. The reported inhibition by fatty acids of cyclic AMP-dependent Cl- secretion in epithelial cells may therefore be due in part to negative regulation of a Cl- channel-associated PKA.