Frog urinary bladder epithelial cells express TLR4 and respond to bacterial LPS by increase of iNOS expression andl-arginine uptake

As in mammals, epithelium of the amphibian urinary bladder forms a barrier to pathogen entry and is a first line of defense against penetrating microorganisms. We investigated the effect of Escherichia coli LPS on generation of nitric oxide (NO), a critically important mediator during infectious processes, by primary cultured frog ( Rana temporaria) urinary bladder epithelial cells (FUBEC). It was found that FUBEC constitutively express Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), a receptor of LPS, and respond to LPS (10 μg/ml) by stimulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA/protein expression and NOS activity measured by nitrite produced in the culture medium and by citrulline assay. We characterized uptake of l-arginine, a precursor in NO synthesis, by FUBEC and showed that it is mediated mainly by the y+ cationic amino acid transport system. LPS stimulated l-arginine uptake, and this effect was blocked by the iNOS inhibitor 1400W. Arginase II was found to be expressed in FUBEC. Inhibition of arginase activity by (S)-(boronoethyl)-l-cysteine increased generation of NO, suggesting contribution of arginase to NO production via competing with NOS for the substrate. LPS altered neither total arginase activity nor arginase II expression. Among epithelial cells, phagocytic macrophage-like cells were observed, but they did not contribute to LPS-induced NO production. These data demonstrate that amphibian urinary bladder epithelial cells recognize LPS and respond to it by increased generation of NO via stimulation of iNOS expression and l-arginine uptake, which appears to be essential for the regulation of the innate immune response and the inflammation in bladder epithelium.

Isolated epithelial cells from amphibian urinary bladder express functional gap junctional hemichannels

Exposure of the urinary bladder epithelium of Necturus maculosus (NUB) to protease and collagenase yields ∼50% isolated polarized cells. These cells express a membrane current slowly activated by depolarization or by removal of external divalent cations. The biophysical and pharmacological properties of the current are largely consistent with those of gap junctional hemichannels. After removal of divalent cations, the cells can also be loaded with 5(6)-carboxyfluorescein, a hydrophilic fluorescent anionic dye, and exposure to dye reduces the current in a manner dependent on membrane voltage and side of application. In contrast, Necturus gallbladder (NGB) cells exhibit no membrane conductance attributable to gap junctional hemichannels, although previous studies reveal the persistence of gap junction plaques on the plasma membrane. We conclude that functional gap junctional hemichannels can be expressed on the surface of certain isolated epithelial cells and that this is not a necessary consequence of the isolation procedure. These structures may contribute to cell damage under pathological conditions involving cell detachment.

Effects of corticoid agonists and antagonists on apical Na+ permeability of toad urinary bladder

Effects of RU-28362 (glucocorticoid agonist), RU-38486 (glucocorticoid antagonist), and RU-26752 (mineralocorticoid antagonist) on the apical Na+ permeability of toad bladder were measured and correlated with occupancies of cytosolic type I (mineralocorticoid) and type II (glucocorticoid) receptors. Effects of the above steroids were measured in whole bladders, plasma membrane vesicles, and RNA-injected Xenopus oocytes. RU-38486 was found to fully displace aldosterone from type II receptors without affecting type I occupancy. Under these conditions, RU-38486 inhibited approximately 35% of the effect of aldosterone measured in the whole tissue and isolated membranes. Unexpectedly, oocytes injected with RNA from tissue stimulated with aldosterone plus RU-38486 expressed channel activity that was much higher than the sum of activities induced by either steroid alone. RU-28362 and RU-26752 at concentrations sufficient to fully occupy both receptors had only partial agonistic and antagonistic effects, respectively. The results suggest that at least one-third of the natriferic action of aldosterone measured in the amphibian urinary bladder is mediated by the glucocorticoid receptor. However, some of the effects observed cannot be accounted for by a simple receptor occupancy-response scheme.

Role of PKC isozyme III (γ) in water transport in amphibian urinary bladder

Vasopressin stimulated water flow across renal epithelia is thought to occur through a V2 receptor coupled to adenylcyclase. The increase in water flow occurs as a result of a fusion of water channels with the apical membrane and is indicative of an increase in membrane capacitance following hormone addition.What controls the cycling of water channels and their insertion into the membrane is uncertain. Our laboratory has demonstrated that renal epithelia as well as amphibian urinary bladder membranes, contain a vasopressin V1 receptor which upon activation results in the breakdown of phosphoinositide and the formation of inositol triphosphate and diacylglycerol, the latter an activator of protein kinase C (PKC). The initiation of transepithelial water flow also appears to involve V1 receptors and possibly activation of PKC. To test this hypothesis, we have been using activators of PKC, such as phorbol esters and mezerein, as pharmacological tools to determine if PKC activation results in similar physiological responses as the hormone. Several PKC isozymes, upon activation, are known to be translocated to the apical membrane as visualized by FITC immunofluorescence. Previously, we reported co-localization of PKC subtypes I (γ) and II (β) in toad urinary bladders using monoclonal antibodies and protein A-gold probes. This report includes the localization of PKC subtype III (α) and its distribution pattern using immunogold labeling.

ADH-induced water permeability and particle aggregates: alteration by a synthetic estrogen

In the amphibian urinary bladder, the increase in water permeability induced by antidiuretic hormone (ADH) is accompanied by the appearance of apical intramembrane particle (IMP) aggregates that are believed to contain specific channels for water. In a previous work, we have shown that 3,3'-diallyldiethylstilbestrol (DADES), a synthetic estrogen which is a blocker of the glucose transporter, also inhibits the hydrosmotic response to ADH in the bladder. Our aim in the present study was to analyze the alterations of the membrane fine structure further and to correlate them with the water permeability changes. The results point to a selective inhibition of the ADH-induced net water flow, probably due to an interference with one of the last steps of the response to the hormone. This inhibition is associated with an increase in the density of the apical IMP aggregates, which are thus probably not operational. The resting net water flow is not inhibited and, surprisingly, typical IMP aggregates are frequently observed in the apical membrane after DADES treatment. The compound also induces the appearance of unusual loose IMP clusters that can only be seen on the apical membrane of the granular cells and that share several ultrastructural similarities with the ADH-induced aggregates. These results suggest that 1) apical DADES treatment stimulates the insertion of IMP aggregates in the apical membrane of the urinary bladder and 2) DADES inhibits the ADH-induced water flow by interfering with the aggregates and thus probably by blocking the specific water channels.