Na+/H+ Exchangers Involve in Regulating the pH-Sensitive Ion Channels in Mouse Sperm

Sperm-specific K+ ion channel (KSper) and Ca2+ ion channel (CatSper), whose elimination causes male infertility in mice, determine the membrane potential and Ca2+ influx, respectively. KSper and CatSper can be activated by cytosolic alkalization, which occurs during sperm going through the alkaline environment of the female reproductive tract. However, which intracellular pH (pHi) regulator functionally couples to the activation of KSper/CatSper remains obscure. Although Na+/H+ exchangers (NHEs) have been implicated to mediate pHi in sperm, there is a lack of direct evidence confirming the functional coupling between NHEs and KSper/CatSper. Here, 5-(N,N-dimethyl)-amiloride (DMA), an NHEs inhibitor that firstly proved not to affect KSper/CatSper directly, was chosen to examine NHEs function on KSper/CatSper in mouse sperm. The results of patch clamping recordings showed that, when extracellular pH was at the physiological level of 7.4, DMA application caused KSper inhibition and the depolarization of membrane potential when pipette solutions were not pH-buffered. In contrast, these effects were minimized when pipette solutions were pH-buffered, indicating that they solely resulted from pHi acidification caused by NHEs inhibition. Similarly, DMA treatment reduced CatSper current and intracellular Ca2+, effects also dependent on the buffer capacity of pH in pipette solutions. The impairment of sperm motility was also observed after DMA incubation. These results manifested that NHEs activity is coupled to the activation of KSper/CatSper under physiological conditions.

Role of lysophosphatidic acid in vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is an important lipid molecule for signal transduction in cell proliferation. Although the effects of LPA on vascular smooth muscle (VSM) cell growth have been reported previously, the underlying mechanisms of its action are not fully understood. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of some inhibitors of different protein kinases and other molecular targets on LPA-induced DNA synthesis as well as gene expression in the aortic VSM cells. The DNA synthesis was studied by the [3H]thymidine incorporation method and the gene expression was investigated by the real-time PCR technique. It was observed that the LPA-induced DNA synthesis was attenuated by inhibitors of protein kinase C (PKC) (staurosporine, calphostin C, and bisindolylmaleimide), phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) (wortmannin and LY294002), and ribosomal p70S6 kinase (p70S6K) (rapamycin). The inhibitors of guanine protein coupled receptors (GPCR) (pertussis toxin), phospholipase C (PLC) (U73122 and D609), and sodium–hydrogen exchanger (NHE) (amiloride and dimethyl amiloride) were also shown to depress the LPA-induced DNA synthesis. Furthermore, gene expressions for PLC β1 isoform, PKC δ and ε isoforms, casein kinase II β isoform, and endothelin-1A receptors were elevated by LPA. These results suggest that the LPA-induced proliferation of VSM cells is mediated through the activation of GPCR and multiple protein kinases as well as gene expressions of some of their specific isoforms.

Inhibition of Na+/H+exchanger enhances low pH-induced L-selectin shedding and β2-integrin surface expression in human neutrophils

Ischemia-reperfusion injury is a common pathological occurrence causing tissue damage in heart attack and stroke. Entrapment of neutrophils in the vasculature during ischemic events has been implicated in this process. In this study, we examine the effects that lactacidosis and consequent reductions in intracellular pH (pHi) have on surface expression of adhesion molecules on neutrophils. When human neutrophils were exposed to pH 6 lactate, there was a marked decrease in surface L-selectin (CD62L) levels, and the decrease was significantly enhanced by inclusion of Na+/H+exchanger (NHE) inhibitor 5-( N, N-hexamethylene)amiloride (HMA). Similar effects were observed when pHiwas reduced while maintaining normal extracellular pH, by using an NH4Cl prepulse followed by washes and incubation in pH 7.4 buffer containing NHE inhibitors [HMA, cariporide, or 5-( N, N-dimethyl)amiloride (DMA)]. The amount of L-selectin shedding induced by different concentrations of NH4Cl in the prepulse correlated with the level of intracellular acidification with an apparent p K of 6.3. In contrast, β2-integrin (CD11b and CD18) was only slightly upregulated in the low-pHicondition and was enhanced by NHE inhibition to a much lesser extent. L-selectin shedding was prevented by treating human neutrophils with inhibitors of extracellular metalloproteases (RO-31-9790 and KD-IX-73-4) or with inhibitors of intracellular signaling via p38 MAP kinase (SB-203580 and SB-239063), implying a transmembrane effect of pHi. Taken together, these data suggest that the ability of NHE inhibitors such as HMA to reduce ischemia-reperfusion injury may be related to the nearly complete removal of L-selectin from the neutrophil surface.

Intracellular pH regulates superoxide production by the macula densa

We hypothesized that elevated macula densa intracellular pH (pHi) during tubuloglomerular feedback enhances O2−production from NAD(P)H oxidase. Microdissected thick ascending limbs from rabbits with intact macula densa were cannulated and perfused with physiological saline. When luminal NaCl was switched from 10 to 80 mM, O2−production increased from 0.53 ± 0.09 to 2.62 ± 0.54 U/min ( P < 0.01). To determine whether inhibiting the Na/H exchanger blocks O2−production, we used dimethyl amiloride (DMA) to block Na/H exchange. In the presence of DMA, O2−production induced by NaCl was blunted by 40%. To study the effect of pHion O2−in intact macula densa cells, we measured O2−while pHiwas changed by adjusting luminal pH. When the macula densa was perfused with 80 mM NaCl and the pH of the perfusate was switched to 6.8, 7.4, and 8.0, O2−production was significantly enhanced, but not at 10 mM NaCl. To ascertain the source of O2−, we used the NAD(P)H oxidase inhibitor apocynin. In the presence of apocynin (10−5M), O2−production induced by elevating pHiwas blocked. Finally, we measured the optimum pH for O2−production by the macula densa and found optimum extracellular pH is at 7.7 and optimum pHiis ∼8 for O2−production. We found that elevated pHienhances O2−production from NAD(P)H oxidase induced by increasing luminal NaCl when the lumen is perfused with 80 mM NaCl, not 10 mM, and O2−production is pH sensitive, with an optimum pHiof 8.

Dimethyl amiloride improves glucose homeostasis in mouse models of type 2 diabetes

Dimethyl amiloride (DMA) enhances insulin secretion in the pancreatic β-cell. DMA also enhances time-dependent potentiation (TDP) and enables TDP to occur in situations where it is normally absent. As we have demonstrated before, these effects are mediated in part through inhibition of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), resulting in increased availability of arginine. Thus both DMA and arginine have the potential to correct the secretory defect in diabetes by enabling or enhancing TDP. In the current study we have demonstrated the ability of these agents to improve blood glucose homeostasis in three mouse models of type 2 diabetes. The pattern of TDP under different conditions indicates that inhibition of NOS is not the only mechanism through which DMA exerts its positive effects. Thus we also have explored another possible mechanism through which DMA enables/enhances TDP, via the activation of mitochondrial α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase.

Mechanisms of secretion-associated shrinkage and volume recovery in cultured rabbit parietal cells

We have previously shown that stimulation of acid secretion in parietal cells causes rapid initial cell shrinkage, followed by Na+/H+ exchange-mediated regulatory volume increase (RVI). The factors leading to the initial cell shrinkage are unknown. We therefore monitored volume changes in cultured rabbit parietal cells by confocal measurement of the cytoplasmic calcein concentration. Although blocking the presumably apically located K+ channel KCNQ1 with chromanol 293b reduced both the forskolin- and carbachol-induced cell shrinkage, inhibition of Ca2+-sensitive K+ channels with charybdotoxin strongly inhibited the cell volume decrease after carbachol, but not after forskolin stimulation. The cell shrinkage induced by both secretagogues was partially inhibited by blocking H+-K+-ATPase with SCH28080 and completely absent after incubation with NPPB, which inhibits parietal cell anion conductances involved in acid secretion. The subsequent RVI was strongly inhibited with the Na+/H+ exchanger 1 (NHE1)-specific concentration of HOE642 and completely by 500 μM dimethyl-amiloride (DMA), which also inhibits NHE4. None of the above substances induced volume changes under baseline conditions. Our results indicate that cell volume decrease associated with acid secretion is dependent on the activation of K+ and Cl− channels by the respective secretagogues. K+, Cl−, and water secretion into the secretory canaliculi is thus one likely mechanism of stimulation-associated cell shrinkage in cultured parietal cells. The observed RVI is predominantly mediated by NHE1.

Mechanism of augmented duodenal HCO3−secretion after elevation of luminal CO2

The proximal duodenum is exposed to extreme elevations of Pco2because of the continuous mixture of secreted HCO3−with gastric acid. These elevations (up to 80 kPa) are likely to place the mucosal cells under severe acid stress. Furthermore, we hypothesized that, unlike most other cells, the principal source of CO2for duodenal epithelial cells is from the lumen. We hence examined the effect of elevated luminal Pco2on duodenal HCO3−secretion (DBS) in the rat. DBS was measured by the pH-stat method. For CO2challenge, the duodenum was superfused with a high Pco2solution. Intracellular pH (pHi) of duodenal epithelial cells was measured by ratio microfluorometry. CO2challenge, but not isohydric solutions, strongly increased DBS to approximately two times basal for up to 1 h. Preperfusion of the membrane-permeant carbonic anhydrase inhibitor methazolamide, or continuous exposure with indomethacin, fully inhibited CO2-augmented DBS. Dimethyl amiloride (0.1 mM), an inhibitor of the basolateral sodium-hydrogen exchanger 1, also inhibited CO2-augumented DBS, although S-3226, a specific inhibitor of apical sodium-hydrogen exchanger 3, did not. DIDS, an inhibitor of basolateral sodium-HCO3−cotransporter, also inhibited CO2-augemented DBS, as did the anion channel inhibitor 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino) benzoic acid. CO2decreased epithelial cell pHi, followed by an overshoot after removal of the CO2solution. We conclude that luminal CO2diffused in the duodenal epithelial cells and was converted to H+and HCO3−by carbonic anhydrase. H+initially exited the cell, followed by secretion of HCO3−. Secretion was dependent on a functioning basolateral sodium/proton exchanger, a functioning basolateral HCO3−uptake mechanism, and submucosal prostaglandin generation and facilitated hydration of CO2into HCO3−and H+.

Potential New Anti-Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Compounds Depress Virus Replication in Cultured Human Macrophages

ABSTRACT We report that the amiloride analogues 5-(N,N-hexamethylene)amiloride and 5-(N,N-dimethyl)amiloride inhibit, at micromolar concentrations, the replication of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in cultured human blood monocyte-derived macrophages. These compounds also inhibit the in vitro activities of the HIV-1 Vpu protein and might represent lead compounds for a new class of anti-HIV-1 drugs.

NHE3 inhibition activates duodenal bicarbonate secretion in the rat

We examined the effect of inhibition of Na+/H+exchange (NHE) on duodenal bicarbonate secretion (DBS) in rats to further understand DBS regulation. DBS was measured by using the pH-stat method and by using CO2-sensitive electrodes. 5-( N,N-dimethyl)-amiloride (50 μM; DMA), a concentration that selectively inhibits the NHE isoforms NHE1 and NHE2, but not NHE3, did not affect DBS. Nevertheless, 3 mM DMA, a higher concentration that inhibits NHE1, NHE2, and NHE3, significantly increased DBS. Moreover, S1611 and S3226, both specific inhibitors of NHE3 only, or perfusion with Na+-free solutions, dose dependently increased DBS, as measured by pH-stat and CO2-sensitive electrode, without affecting intracellular pH. Coperfusion with 0.1 μM indomethacin, 0.5 mM DIDS, or 1 mM methazolamide did not affect S3226-induced DBS. Nevertheless, coperfusion with 0.1 and 0.3 mM 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino) benzoic acid, which inhibits the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductor regulator (CFTR), dose dependently inhibited S3226-induced DBS. In conclusion, only specific apical NHE3 inhibition increased DBS, whereas prostaglandin synthesis, [Formula: see text] cotransporter activation, or intracellular [Formula: see text] formation by carbonic anhydrase was not involved. Because NHE3 inhibition-increased DBS was inhibited by an anion channel inhibitor and because reciprocal CFTR regulation has been previously shown between NHE3 and apical membrane anion transporters, we speculate that NHE3 inhibition increased DBS by altering anion transporter function.