Maintained ENaC trafficking in aldosterone-infused rats during mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid receptor blockade.

Nielsen, Jakob,Kwon, Tae-Hwan,Frokiaer, Jorgen,Knepper, Mark A,Nielsen, Soren American Physiological Society 2007 American Journal of Physiology Vol.292 No.1

<P>Aldosterone induces redistribution of epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) to the apical plasma membrane from intracellular vesicles in renal connecting tubule (CNT) and cortical collecting duct (CCD). The role of the classical mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) in ENaC trafficking is still debated. We examined whether the MR antagonist spironolactone affects ENaC regulation in the kidney cortex of aldosterone-infused rats. Aldosterone infusion for 7 days resulted in a plasma aldosterone concentration in the high physiological range (3 to 4 nM). Aldosterone infusion decreased plasma K(+) concentration compared with untreated control rats. Cotreatment with spironolactone completely blocked the aldosterone-induced decrease in plasma K(+). Immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry showed increased protein abundance of Na-K-ATPase alpha(1)-subunit and NCC in the kidney cortex, in response to aldosterone infusion that was blocked by spironolactone. In contrast, aldosterone-induced redistribution of ENaC subunits from the cytoplasm to the apical plasma membrane domain in CNT and CCD was unaffected by spironolactone. Immunoblotting of alphaENaC showed increased protein abundance in aldosterone-infused rats that was not blocked by spironolactone treatment. To exclude possible glucocorticoid receptor (GR)-mediated effects of aldosterone, we treated aldosterone-infused rats with both spironolactone and the GR antagonist RU486. Combined MR and GR blockade prevented neither ENaC trafficking nor the upregulation of alphaENaC protein abundance in aldosterone-infused rats. We provide new evidence for ENaC trafficking occurring independent of MR and GR activation in aldosterone-infused rats.</P>

Rapid and segmental specific dysregulation of AQP2, S256-pAQP2 and renal sodium transporters in rats with LPS-induced endotoxaemia

Olesen, E. T. B.,de Seigneux, S.,Wang, G.,Lutken, S. C.,Frokiaer, J.,Kwon, T.-H.,Nielsen, S. Oxford University Press 2009 Nephrology, dialysis, transplantation Vol.24 No.8

<P>BACKGROUND: Acute renal failure (ARF) is a frequent complication of sepsis. Characteristics of ARF in sepsis are impaired urinary concentration, increased natriuresis and decreased glomerular filtration rate (GFR), in which inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) has been revealed to play a role. Aims. We aimed to investigate renal water and sodium excretion and in parallel the segmental regulation of renal AQP2 and major sodium transporters in rats with acute LPS-induced endotoxaemia. Next, we aimed to examine the changes of iNOS expression and activated macrophage infiltration in the kidney and the effects of iNOS inhibition on AQP2 and NKCC2 expression in LPS rats. METHODS: Rats were treated with LPS (i.p.) or with LPS + iNOS inhibitor L-NIL, and 6 h later kidneys were subjected to semiquantitative immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Polyuria and increased natriuresis were seen 6 h after LPS injection alongside downregulation of both AQP2 and S256-phosphorylated AQP2 in CTX/OSOM and ISOM but not in inner medulla (IM). Thick ascending limb sodium transporters NHE3 and NKCC2 were downregulated in ISOM and NaPi2 was decreased in CTX/OSOM, whereas NCC and ENaC were not consistently downregulated. Immunolabelling intensity of iNOS was increased in vascular structures and transitional epithelium, and an infiltration of activated macrophages was seen in CTX and ISOM. L-NIL co-treatment prevented the downregulation of NKCC2 but not AQP2 in LPS rats. CONCLUSIONS: Early downregulation of AQP2 and sodium transporters takes place segmentally in the kidney after LPS administration. In addition, an infiltration of activated macrophages and increased iNOS expression may play a role in the urinary concentrating defect in acute LPS-induced entotoxaemia.</P>

Severe urinary concentrating defect in renal collecting duct-selective AQP2 conditional-knockout mice

Rojek, A.,Fuchtbauer, E.-M.,Kwon, T.-H.,Frokiaer, J.,Nielsen, S. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 2006 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF Vol.103 No.15

<P>Aquaporin-2 (AQP2) is the predominant vasopressin-regulated water channel in kidney connecting tubule (CNT) and collecting duct (CD) and is essential for renal regulation of body water balance. However, the relative role of AQP2 to urinary concentration in the CNT and CD segments is unknown. To examine this directly, transgenic mice expressing AQP2 selectively in CNT but lacking AQP2 expression in CD (AQP2-CD-KO) and mice lacking AQP2 globally (AQP2-total-KO) were generated by exploiting the Cre/loxP technology. LoxP sites were inserted into AQP2 introns 2 and 3, and transgenic mice were bred with strains expressing Cre recombinase under the control of CD-specific Hoxb7- or global EIIa promoter. Mice lacking AQP2 globally died postnatally (days 5-12). AQP2-CD-KO mice were viable to adulthood and showed decreased body weight, 10-fold increased urine production (0.96 +/- 0.11 vs. 0.10 +/- 0.01 ml/g of body weight), and decreased urinary osmolality (170 +/- 19 vs. 1,630 +/- 135 milliosmoles/kg of H(2)O). Immunohistochemical staining of AQP2-CD-KO kidneys (n = 12) revealed sustained, strong AQP2 expression in CNT cells, whereas >95% of CD principal cells were completely AQP2-negative. Water deprivation for 3 hours caused only marginal decreased urine output (87 +/- 7% of levels when mice had free water access; P = 0.04) with no change in urine osmolality, revealing an absence of compensatory mechanisms. These results demonstrate that AQP2 in CNT is sufficient for postnatal survival and that AQP2 in CD is essential for regulation of body water balance and cannot be compensated for by other mechanisms.</P>

-Lipoic acid prevents cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury in rats

Bae, E. H.,Lee, J.,Ma, S. K.,Kim, I. J.,Frokiaer, J.,Nielsen, S.,Kim, S. Y.,Kim, S. W. Oxford University Press 2009 Nephrology, dialysis, transplantation Vol.24 No.9

<P>BACKGROUND: Cisplatin-induced nephropathy has been related to increased lipid peroxide formation and decreased activity of antioxidant enzymes in the kidney. The present study aimed to examine whether treatment with alpha-lipoic acid (alpha-LA) prevents the cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. METHODS: Two groups of rats were treated with cisplatin, one of which being cotreated with alpha-LA. The control group was treated with vehicle only. Four days later, the expression of aquaporins and sodium transporters was determined in the kidney by immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry. The arginine vasopressin-stimulated generation of cAMP was measured by radioimmunoassay. The expression of nitric oxide synthases (NOS) was determined by immunoblotting. The mRNA expression of endothelin-1 (ET-1) and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha was measured by real-time PCR. Apoptosis was examined by TUNEL staining. RESULTS: Following the treatment with cisplatin, urinary volume and fractional excretion of sodium increased. Accordingly, the expression of aquaporins 1-3, Na,K-ATPase, NHE3 and NKCC2 was decreased. The expression of adenylyl cyclase VI and vasopressin-stimulated cAMP generation was decreased. The expression of inducible NOS was increased, while that of endothelial NOS decreased. The ET-1 expression was increased. TUNEL-positive cells were increased, in association with an increased expression of TNF-alpha. alpha-LA treatment prevented dysregulation of these parameters and resumed the renal function. CONCLUSION: alpha-LA may prevent the cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity, possibly through preserving the activities of NO and ET systems and inhibiting the development of apoptosis.</P>

Pre-existing renal failure worsens the outcome after intestinal ischaemia and reperfusion in rats

Skott, M.,Norregaard, R.,Sorensen, H. B.,Kwon, T.-H.,Frokiaer, J.,Nielsen, S. Oxford University Press 2010 Nephrology, dialysis, transplantation Vol.25 No.11

Changes of renal AQP2, ENaC, and NHE3 in experimentally induced heart failure: response to angiotensin II AT₁ receptor blockade

Lutken, S.C.,Kim, S.W.,Jonassen, T.,Marples, D.,Knepper, M.A.,Kwon, T.-H.,Frokiaer, J.,Nielsen, S. AMERICAN PHYSIOLOGICAL SOCIETY 2009 American journal of physiology. Renal physiology Vol.297 No.6

alpha-MSH prevents impairment in renal function and dysregulation of AQPs and Na-K-ATPase in rats with bilateral ureteral obstruction.

Li, Chunling,Shi, Yimin,Wang, Weidong,Sardeli, Chrysanthi,Kwon, Tae-Hwan,Thomsen, Klaus,Jonassen, Thomas,Djurhuus, Jens Christian,Knepper, Mark A,Nielsen, Soren,Frokiaer, Jorgen American Physiological Society 2006 American Journal of Physiology Vol.290 No.2

<P>The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of the anti-inflammatory hormone alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) treatment on renal function and expression of aquaporins (AQPs) and Na-K-ATPase in the kidney in response to 24 h of bilateral ureteral obstruction (BUO) or release of BUO (BUO-R). In rats with 24-h BUO, immunoblotting revealed that downregulation of AQP2 and AQP3 was attenuated (AQP2: 38 +/- 5 vs. 13 +/- 4%; AQP3: 44 +/- 3 vs. 19 +/- 4% of sham levels; P < 0.05), whereas downregulation of Na-K-ATPase was prevented by alpha-MSH treatment (Na-K-ATPase: 94 +/- 7 vs. 35 +/- 5% of sham levels; P < 0.05). Immunocytochemistry confirmed the changes in AQP1 and Na-K-ATPase expression. Renal tubular cell apoptosis was confirmed in BUO kidneys, and alpha-MSH treatment virtually completely abolished apoptosis. Furthermore, we measured glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and effective renal plasma flow (ERPF), respectively. Forty-eight hours after BUO-R demonstrated that alpha-MSH treatment almost completely prevented the decrease in GFR (nontreated: 271 +/- 50; alpha-MSH: 706 +/- 85; sham: 841 +/- 105 microl x min(-1).100 g body wt(-1), P < 0.05) and ERPF (nontreated: 1,139 +/- 217; alpha-MSH: 2,598 +/- 129; sham: 2,633 +/- 457 microl x min(-1).100 g body wt(-1), P < 0.05). alpha-MSH treatment also partly prevented the downregulation of AQP1 and Na-K-ATPase expression in rats after BUO-R for 48 h. In conclusion, alpha-MSH treatment significantly prevents impairment in renal function and also prevents downregulation of AQP2, AQP3, and Na-K-ATPase during BUO or AQP1 and Na-K-ATPase after BUO-R, demonstrating a marked renoprotective effect of alpha-MSH treatment in conditions with urinary tract obstruction.</P>

Biphasic effects of ANP infusion in conscious, euvolumic rats: roles of AQP2 and ENaC trafficking.

Wang, Weidong,Li, Chunling,Nejsum, Lene N,Li, Hongyan,Kim, Soo Wan,Kwon, Tae-Hwan,Jonassen, Thomas E N,Knepper, Mark A,Thomsen, Klaus,Frokiaer, Jorgen,Nielsen, Soren American Physiological Society 2006 American journal of physiology. Renal physiology Vol.290 No.2

<P>Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) acutely promotes water and sodium excretion, whereas subchronic effects involve water retention. Renal hemodynamics, water and sodium excretion, and aquaporin-2 (AQP2) and epithelial Na channel (ENaC) subcellular trafficking were determined in response to continuous ANP infusion in conscious rats, where body sodium and fluid balance was constantly maintained. ANP (0.5 microg x kg(-1) x min(-1)) evoked a transient (peak at 10 min) fivefold diuresis followed by reduced urine production to control levels (30- to 90-min period). The fractional distal water excretion was significantly increased initially and then decreased in response to ANP. There was no change in the subcellular localization of AQP2 and AQP2 phosphorylated in PKA consensus site S256 (p-AQP2) 10 min after ANP infusion. In contrast, after 90 min a marked increase in apical labeling of AQP2 and p-AQP2 was observed in the inner and outer medullary collecting ducts but not in cortical collecting ducts. In support of this, ANP induced plasma membrane targeting of AQP2 in transiently AQP2-transfected cells. ANP infusion evoked an instant increase in renal sodium excretion, which persisted for 90 min. Ten minutes of ANP infusion induced no changes in the subcellular localization of ENaC subunits, whereas a marked increase in apical targeting of alpha- and gamma-subunits was observed after 90 min. In conclusion, 1) ANP infusion induced a sustained natriuresis and transient diuresis; 2) there were no changes in the subcellular localization of AQP2 and ENaC subunits after 10 min of ANP infusion; and 3) there was a marked increase in apical targeting of AQP2, p-AQP2, and alpha- and gamma-ENaC after 90 min of ANP infusion. The increased targeting of ENaC and AQP2 likely represents direct or compensatory effects to increase sodium and water reabsorption and to prevent volume depletion in response to prolonged ANP infusion.</P>