Regulatory volume decrease by cultured renal cells.

The vertebrate transient receptor potential cationic channel TRPV4 has been proposed as an osmo- and mechanosensor channel. Studies using knock-out animal models have further emphasized the relevance of the TRPV4 channel in the maintenance of the internal osmotic equilibrium and mechanosensation. However, at the cellular level, there is still one important question to answer: does the TRPV4 channel generate the Ca(2+) signal in those cells undergoing a Ca(2+)-dependent regulatory volume decrease (RVD) response? RVD in human airway epithelia requires the generation of a Ca(2+) signal to activate Ca(2+)-dependent K(+) channels. The RVD response is lost in airway epithelia affected with cystic fibrosis (CF), a disease caused by mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator channel. We have previously shown that the defective RVD in CF epithelia is linked to the lack of swelling-dependent activation of Ca(2+)-dependent K(+) channels. In the present study, we show the expression of TRPV4 in normal human airway epithelia, where it functions as the Ca(2+) entry pathway that triggers the RVD response after hypotonic stress, as demonstrated by TRPV4 antisense experiments. However, cell swelling failed to trigger Ca(2+) entry via TRPV4 channels in CF airway epithelia, although the channel's response to a specific synthetic activator, 4 alpha-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate, was maintained. Furthermore, RVD was recovered in CF airway epithelia treated with 4 alpha-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate. Together, these results suggest that defective RVD in CF airway epithelia might be caused by the absence of a TRPV4-mediated Ca(2+) signal and the subsequent activation of Ca(2+)-dependent K(+) channels.

The putative role for Ca2+ entry and Ca2+ mobilization in the activation of the regulatory volume decrease (RVD) response has been assessed in Ehrlich cells. Following hypotonic exposure (50% osmolarity) there is: (i) no increase in cellular Ins(1,4,5)P3 content, as measured in extracts from [2-3H]myoinositol-labeled cells, a finding at variance with earlier reports from our group; (ii) no evidence of Ca2+-signaling recorded in a suspension of fura-2-loaded cells; (iii) Ca2+-signaling in only about 6% of the single, fura-2-loaded cells at 1-mm Ca2+ (1% only at 0.1-mM Ca2+ and in Ca2+-free medium), as monitored by fluorescence-ratio imaging; (iv) no effect of removing external Ca2+ upon the volume-induced K+ loss; (v) no significant inhibition of the RVD response in cells loaded with the Ca2+ chelator BAPTA when the BAPTA-loading is performed in K+ equilibrium medium; (vi) an inhibition of the swelling-induced K+ loss (about 50%) at 1-mM Ba2+, but almost no effect of charybdotoxin (100 nm) or of clotrimazole (10 microM), reported inhibitors of the K+ loss induced by Ca2+-mobilizing agonists. Thus, Ca2+signaling by Ca2+ release or Ca2+ entry appears to play no role in the activation mechanism for the RVD response in Ehrlich cells.

Rabbit proximal straight tubules rapidly swell to a maximum volume when abruptly immersed into hypotonic medium. However, in a second, slower phase, termed volume regulatory decrease (VRD), tubules shrink toward their basal volume due to the efflux of K, accompanying anion and water. In the present study, we investigated the nature of the anion during hypotonic volume regulation. We removed Cl and/or the HCO3 buffer to assess their relative importance in VRD, and we used furosemide, 4-acetamido-4'-isothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (SITS), and barium to investigate the nature of the transmembrane anion pathway in VRD. Isosmotic replacement of peritubular Cl with gluconate had no effect on either tubule volume in isotonic medium or the initial osmometric swelling response in hypotonic medium. However, the VRD in such Cl-depleted tubules was significantly inhibited. Control tubules regulated 81% below their maximal volume in dilute medium. By contrast, Cl-depleted tubules regulated only 39%. This inhibitory effect could not be attributed to the absence of peritubular Cl or to the presence of gluconate. The absence of the HCO3 buffer or the presence of SITS (0.5 mM) had no inhibitory effect on the rate or extent of VRD. Furosemide alone (1 mM) also had no inhibitory effect on VRD. However, whereas barium alone delays VRD, addition of furosemide to barium-treated tubules further slowed their maximal rate of fluid efflux and delayed VRD even more.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Hypo-osmotic swelling of carp red blood cells (RBCs) induced a regulatory volume decrease (RVD), which restored the original cell volume within 140 min in oxygenated RBCs, whereas volume recovery was incomplete in deoxygenated RBCs. The complete RVD in oxygenated RBCs resulted from a sustained volume-activated release of K+, Cl- and amino acids (AAs). In the absence of ouabain, the cells also lost Na+ as released K+ was partially regained via the Na+/K+ pump. Inorganic osmolytes contributed approximately 70 %, and organic osmolytes approximately 30 %, to the RVD of oxygenated RBCs. Oxygenation in isotonic medium per se activated a K+ efflux from the RBCs. Hypo-osmotic cell swelling stimulated an additional K+ release. The oxygenation-activated and the volume-activated K+ efflux were both inhibited by DIDS and by the replacement of Cl- with NO3-, showing that both types of K+ efflux were Cl--dependent and probably occurred via the same K+/Cl- cotransport mechanism. Once activated by oxygenation, the K+/Cl- cotransport was further stimulated by cell swelling. Deoxygenation inactivated the oxygenation-induced Cl--dependent K+ release and cell swelling was not a sufficient stimulus to reactivate it significantly. In deoxygenated RBCs, the volume-induced K+ release was transient and primarily Cl--independent and, in the absence of ouabain, the cell K+ content recovered towards control values via the Na+/K+ pump. The Cl--independent K+ efflux seemed to involve K+/H+ exchange, but other transport routes also participated. Swelling-activated AA release differed in kinetics between oxygenated and deoxygenated RBCs but was important for RVD at both oxygenation degrees. Approximately 70 % of the AA release was inhibited by DIDS and substitution of NO3- for Cl- produced a 50 % inhibition, suggesting that the AA permeation was partly Cl--dependent. In oxygenated RBCs, a reduction in pH lowered the volume-activated Cl--dependent K+ efflux but not the AA efflux. In deoxygenated RBCs, the acute volume-stimulated K+ and AA release were both increased by acidification. The data are discussed in relation to possible transducer mechanisms and physiological implications.

Results obtained through the use of inhibitors and isotope flux and equilibration techniques indicate that the regulatory volume decrease (RVD) response of human promyelocytic leukemic HL-60 cells occurs largely through the efflux of K+ and Cl- through separate conductive membrane pathways. These "channels" differ pharmacologically and in their modes of activation from those described in lymphocytes and Ehrlich ascites tumor cells. With use of measured 86Rb+ and 36Cl- fluxes, together with a diffusion kinetic model, the membrane potential (Em) and apparent K+ and Cl- permeabilities (PK and PCl) were estimated under various isotonic and hypotonic conditions. Under isotonic (300 mosM) conditions, Em is close to the Nernst potential for K+ and PCl is < 0.1 PK. Rapid and steeply graded increases in the measured Cl- efflux rate and calculated PCl occur with decreasing tonicity, with the largest increases at tonicities < 80% of isotonic. K+ efflux and the apparent PK increase only modestly with decreasing tonicity. At 50% tonicity, PCl rises to nearly 10 times PK, which should cause substantial membrane depolarization, with Em approaching the Nernst potential for Cl-. Gramicidin treatment markedly accelerates the rate of RVD and net 36Cl- efflux in hypotonic Na(+)-and Cl(-)-free media, providing further evidence that PK is rate limiting during RVD. K+ loss exceeds Cl- loss during RVD, and the total loss of K+ and Cl- is insufficient to account for the observed degree of volume recovery in 50% tonicity media, indicating that other (organic) osmolytes must take part in the HL-60 cell RVD response.

Effect of amiloride on cell volume regulation in renal straight proximal tubules

Stimulation with leukotriene D4 (LTD4) (3-100 nM) induces a transient increase in the free intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells. The LTD4-induced increase in [Ca2+]i is, however, significantly reduced in Ca2+-free medium (2 mM EGTA), and under these conditions stimulation with a low LTD4 concentration (3 nM) does not result in any detectable increase in [Ca2+]i. Addition of LTD4 (3-100 nM) moreover accelerates the KCl loss seen during Regulatory Volume Decrease (RVD) in cells suspended in a hypotonic medium. The LTD4-induced (100 nM) acceleration of the RVD response is also seen in Ca2+-free medium and also at 3 nM LTD4, indicating that LTD4 can open K+- and Cl--channels without any detectable increase in [Ca2+]i. Buffering cellular Ca2+ with BAPTA almost completely blocks the LTD4-induced (100 nM) acceleration of the RVD response. Thus, the reduced [Ca2+]i level after BAPTA-loading or buffering of [Ca2+]i seems to inhibit the LTD4-induced stimulation of the RVD response even though the LTD4-induced cell shrinkage is not necessarily preceded by any detectable increase in [Ca2+]i. The LTD4 receptor antagonist L649, 923 (1 microM) completely blocks the LTD4-induced increase in [Ca2+]i and inhibits the RVD response as well as the LTD4-induced acceleration of the RVD response. When the LTD4 receptor is desensitized by preincubation with 100 nM LTD4, a subsequent RVD response is strongly inhibited. In conclusion, the present study supports the notion that LTD4 plays a role in the activation of the RVD response. LTD4 seems to activate K+ and Cl- channels via stimulation of a LTD4 receptor with no need for a detectable increase in [Ca2+]i.

Bovine spermatozoa were shown to exhibit rapid regulatory volume decrease (RVD) when exposed to hypotonic saline media. This quinine- and quinidine-sensitive regulatory volume decrease was coincident with K+ release due to stretch-activation of inhibitor-specific presumptive K+ channels. The regulatory volume decrease response was much faster than a similar phenomenon observed in human peripheral blood lymphocytes. Studies on volume changes in different electrolyte and nonelectrolyte media suggested that: (1) this inhibitor-specific channel could also be a nonspecific pore in the spermatozoal membrane for nonelectrolytes below 150 daltons; (2) subpopulations (of nearly equal size) of the spermatozoa differ in the expression of the pore; (3) capacitation abolishes this distinction between subpopulations of spermatozoa; and (4) the general case of RVD for other mammalian spermatozoa was also established.

These studies provide evidence that cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) potentiates and accelerates regulatory volume decrease (RVD) following hypotonic challenge by an autocrine mechanism involving ATP release and signaling. In wild-type CFTR-expressing cells, CFTR augments constitutive ATP release and enhances ATP release stimulated by hypotonic challenge. CFTR itself does not appear to conduct ATP. Instead, ATP is released by a separate channel, whose activity is potentiated by CFTR. Blockade of ATP release by ion channel blocking drugs, gadolinium chloride (Gd(3+)) and 4,4'-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'disulfonic acid (DIDS), attenuated the effects of CFTR on acceleration and potentiation of RVD. These results support a key role for extracellular ATP and autocrine and paracrine purinergic signaling in the regulation of membrane ion permeability and suggest that CFTR potentiates ATP release by stimulating a separate ATP channel to strengthen autocrine control of cell volume regulation.

The mechanism of volume regulation in hypotonic media was analysed in human peripheral blood mononuclear (PBM) cells. Electronic cell sizing showed that hypotonic swelling is followed by a regulatory volume decrease (RVD) phase. This was confirmed by both electron microscopy and by cellular water determinations. The rate of regulatory shrinking was proportional to the degree of hypotonicity in the 0.5-0.9 X isotonic range. Cell viability was only marginally affected in this range. The content of cellular K+ decreased during RVD, while Na+ content remained unchanged. Similarly, the efflux of 86Rb (used as a K+ analog) increased upon dilution, whereas 22Na efflux was not altered. 86Rb uptake was enhanced by hypotonic stress and both ouabain-sensitive and -insensitive components were affected. A ouabain-sensitive stimulation was also seen in Na+- free media. Ouabain partially inhibited RVD only if added to the cells hours before hypotonic challenge. A normal shrinking response was observed in K+-free media, and also in Na+-free media when Li+, choline+, or Tris+ were the substitutes. In high K+ or RB+ hypotonic media shrinking was absent and a second swelling phase was observed. Cs+ displayed an intermediate behavior, with shrinking observed at lower dilutions and secondary swelling at higher ones. The direction and magnitude of the response also changed when the external K+ concentration was varied and, with 50 mM K+, no regulatory volume change occurred following hypotonic stress. These findings suggest that RVD occurs largely by a passive loss of cellular K+, resulting from a selective increase in permeability to this ion. In addition, the (Na-K) pump appears to be activated upon cell swelling by a mechanism other than Na+ entry into the cell, but this activation is not essential for RVD.

PERMEABILIZATION BY STREPTOLYSIN-O REVEALS A ROLE FOR CALCIUM-DEPENDENT PROTEIN KINASE C ISOFORMS ALPHA AND BETA IN THE RESPONSE OF CULTURED CARDIOMYOCYTES TO HYPOSMOTIC CHALLENGE

This study describes the correlation between cell swelling-induced K+ efflux and volume regulation efficiency evaluated with agents known to modulate ion channel activity and/or intracellular signaling processes in a human bronchial epithelial cell line, 16HBE14o−1. Cells on permeable filter supports, differentiated into polarized monolayers, were monitored continuously at room temperature for changes in cell height (Tc), as an index of cell volume, whereas 86Rb efflux was assessed for K+ channel activity. The sudden reduction in osmolality of both the apical and basolateral perfusates (from 290 to 170 mosmol/kg H2O) evoked a rapid increase in cell volume by 35%. Subsequently, the regulatory volume decrease (RVD) restored cell volume almost completely (to 94% of the isosmotic value). The basolateral 86Rb efflux markedly increased during the hyposmotic shock, from 0.50 ± 0.03 min−1 to a peak value of 6.32 ± 0.07 min−1, while apical 86Rb efflux was negligible. Channel blockers, such as GdCl3 (0.5 mM), quinine (0.5 mM) and 5-nitro-2-(3-phenyl-propylamino) benzoic acid (NPPB, 100 μM), abolished the RVD. The protein tyrosine kinase inhibitors tyrphostin 23 (100 μM) and genistein (150 μM) attenuated the RVD. All agents decreased variably the hyposmosis-induced elevation in 86Rb efflux, whereas NPPB induced a complete block, suggesting a link between basolateral K+ and Cl−1 efflux. Forskolin-mediated activation of adenylyl cyclase stimulated the RVD with a concomitant increase in basolateral 86Rb efflux. These data suggest that the basolateral extrusion of K+ and Cl−1 from 16HBE14o−1 cells in response to cell swelling determines RVD efficiency.

Using the human mammary epithelial cell line MCF-7, we have investigated volume-activated changes in response to hyposmotic stress. Switching MCF-7 cells from an isosmotic to a hyposmotic solution resulted in an initial cell swelling response, followed by a regulatory volume decrease (RVD). This RVD response was inhibited by the nonselective K(+) channel inhibitors Ba(2+), quinine, and tetraethylammonium chloride, implicating K(+) channel activity in this volume-regulatory mechanism. Additional studies using chromonol 293B and XE991 as inhibitors of the KCNQ1 K(+) channel, and also a dominant-negative NH(2)-terminal truncated KCNQ1 isoform, showed complete abolition of the RVD response, suggesting that KCNQ1 plays an important role in regulation of cell volume in MCF-7 cells. We additionally confirmed that KCNQ1 mRNA and protein is expressed in MCF-7 cells, and that, when these cells are cultured as a polarized monolayer, KCNQ1 is located exclusively at the apical membrane. Whole cell patch-clamp recordings from MCF-7 cells revealed a small 293B-sensitive current under hyposmotic, but not isosmotic conditions, while recordings from mammalian cells heterologously expressing KCNQ1 alone or KCNQ1 with the accessory subunit KCNE3 reveal a volume-sensitive K(+) current, inhibited by 293B. These data suggest that KCNQ1 may play important physiological roles in the mammary epithelium, regulating cell volume and potentially mediating transepithelial K(+) secretion.

Methylmercury-induced inhibition of regulatory volume decrease in astrocytes: characterization of osmoregulator efflux and its reversal by amiloride

The solute and water transport properties of the bovine ciliary epithelium were studied using isolated pigmented (PE) and nonpigmented (NPE) cells. It was shown that these cells were functionally coupled by demonstrating dye diffusion between paired PE and NPE cells after microinjection of lucifer yellow. Electronic cell sizing was used to measure cell volume changes of isolated PE and NPE cells in suspension after anisosmotic perturbations and after transport inhibition under isosmotic conditions. The PE cells showed the presence of a regulatory volume increase when subjected to osmotic shrinkage with NaCl, whereas the NPE cells did not demonstrate a regulatory volume increase under these conditions. In contrast, the NPE cells exhibited a regulatory volume decrease when subjected to osmotic swelling, whereas the PE cells did not recover from swelling. The regulatory volume decrease in NPE cells was inhibited by increased bath K or pretreatment with quinine (1 mM). The presence of a bumetanide-sensitive mechanism capable of moving measurable amounts of solute and water, probably Na-K-2Cl cotransport, was demonstrated in the PE cells but absent in the NPE cells. Bumetanide produced a dose-dependent shrinkage of PE cells at concentrations as low as 1 microM. Isosmotically reducing bath Cl, Na, or K concentration caused a rapid shrinkage of PE cells that was bumetanide inhibitable. The asymmetry of transport properties in PE and NPE cells supports a functional syncytium model of aqueous humor formation (39) across the two layers of the ciliary epithelium wherein ion uptake from the blood is carried out by the PE cells and ion extrusion by the NPE cells. Gap-junction coupling between the cells allows the ions taken up by the PE cells to move into the NPE cells. Extrusion of Na by the Na-K pump across the aqueous facing (basolateral) membranes of the NPE cells, most likely accompanied by Cl, determines the formation of the aqueous humor.