Chloride channel (Clc)-5 is necessary for exocytic trafficking of Na+/H+ exchanger 3 (NHE3).

ClC-5, a chloride/proton exchanger, is predominantly expressed and localized in subapical endosomes of the renal proximal tubule. Mutations of the CLCN5 gene cause Dent disease. The symptoms of Dent disease are replicated in Clcn5 knock-out mice.

L-type calcium channel activity in osteoblast cells is regulated by the actin cytoskeleton independent of protein trafficking.

Voltage-dependent L-type calcium channels (VDCC) play important roles in many cellular processes. The interaction of the actin cytoskeleton with the channel in nonexcitable cells is less well understood. We performed whole-cell patch-clamp surface biotinylation and calcium imaging on different osteoblast cells to determine channel kinetics, amplitude, surface abundance, and intracellular calcium, respectively.

NHERF1 and NHERF2 are necessary for multiple but usually separate aspects of basal and acute regulation of NHE3 activity.

Na(+)/H(+) exchanger 3 (NHE3) is expressed in the brush border (BB) of intestinal epithelial cells and accounts for the majority of neutral NaCl absorption. It has been shown that the Na(+)/H(+) exchanger regulatory factor (NHERF) family members of multi-PDZ domain-containing scaffold proteins bind to the NHE3 COOH terminus and play necessary roles in NHE3 regulation in intestinal epithelial cells. Most studies of NHE3 regulation have been in cell models in which NHERF1 and/or NHERF2 were overexpressed.

Clcn5 knockout mice exhibit novel immunomodulatory effects and are more susceptible to dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis.

Although the intracellular Cl(-)/H(+) exchanger Clc-5 is expressed in apical intestinal endocytic compartments, its pathophysiological role in the gastrointestinal tract is unknown. In light of recent findings that CLC-5 is downregulated in active ulcerative colitis (UC), we tested the hypothesis that loss of CLC-5 modulates the immune response, thereby inducing susceptibility to UC. Acute dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) colitis was induced in Clcn5 knockout (KO) and wild-type (WT) mice.

Epac1 mediates protein kinase A-independent mechanism of forskolin-activated intestinal chloride secretion.

Intestinal Cl- secretion is stimulated by cyclic AMP (cAMP) and intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i). Recent studies show that protein kinase A (PKA) and the exchange protein directly activated by cAMP (Epac) are downstream targets of cAMP. Therefore, we tested whether both PKA and Epac are involved in forskolin (FSK)/cAMP-stimulated Cl- secretion.

A new insight into pathophysiological mechanisms of zinc in diarrhea.

An increasing amount of data showing the beneficial use of zinc (Zn) in treating diarrhea continues to emerge from epidemiological and clinical trials. However, without a thorough understanding of physiological mechanisms of Zn, it does not support policy recommendation to advocate the therapeutic use of Zn. Our data demonstrate that Zn is a potential antidiarrheal agent that provides substantial benefit by stimulating sodium absorption and inhibiting chloride secretion in intestinal epithelial cells.

Can we generate new hypotheses about Dent's disease from gene analysis of a mouse model?

In humans, Dent's disease, an X-linked renal tubular disorder, is characterized by low molecular weight proteinuria, aminoaciduria, glycosuria, hyperphosphaturia, hypercalciuria, nephrolithiasis, progressive renal failure and sometimes rickets or osteomalacia. The aetiology of X-linked Dent's disease is established to be caused by mutations of the CLCN5 gene. The protein product of this gene is the voltage-gated chloride-proton exchanger CLC-5.

Transcriptional adaptation to Clcn5 knockout in proximal tubules of mouse kidney.

Dent disease has multiple defects attributed to proximal tubule malfunction including low-molecular-weight proteinuria, aminoaciduria, phosphaturia, and glycosuria. To understand the changes in kidney function of the Clc5 chloride/proton exchanger gene knockout mouse model of Dent disease, we examined gene expression profiles from proximal S1 and S2 tubules of mouse kidneys. We found many changes in gene expression not known previously to be altered in this disease.

Absence of ClC5 in knockout mice leads to glycosuria, impaired renal glucose handling and low proximal tubule GLUT2 protein expression.

Glycosuria is one of the well-documented characteristics in ClC-5 knockout (KO) mice and patients with Dent's disease. However, the underlying pathophysiology of its occurrence is unknown. In this study, we have compared ClC-5 KO mice with age and gender matched wild-type (WT) control mice to investigate if the underlying cause of manifested glycosuria is an impairment of glucose homeostasis and/or an alteration in expression levels of proximal tubule (PT) glucose transporters.

Mechanisms of disease: what can mouse models tell us about the molecular processes underlying Dent disease?

Two knockout mouse models of Dent disease are similar with regard to the characteristics of Fanconi syndrome, but differ markedly with respect to vitamin D and renal calcium handling. One model exhibits hypercalciuria, renal calcifications and renal failure; the other does not. Data from such experimental models have greatly advanced our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying Dent disease.

Expression of a truncated cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator with an AAV5-pseudotyped vector in primates.

Gene therapy using recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV2) vectors for cystic fibrosis has shown gene transfer and remarkable safety, yet indeterminate expression. A new construct has been characterized with a powerful exogenous promoter, the cytomegalovirus enhancer/chicken beta-actin promoter, driving a truncated CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), pseudotyped in an AAV5 viral coat. Our goal is to demonstrate that airway delivery of a pseudotyped rAAV5 vector results in gene transfer as well as expression in non-human primates.

Characterization of endogenous betaine gamma-amino-n-butyric acid cotransporter glycoform and its hyperosmotic regulation in MDCK cells.

Increase in mRNA expression and transport activity of the betaine gamma-amino-n-butyric acid cotransporter (BGAT) in response to hyperosmolality has been previously shown in MDCK cells. However, the hyperosmolality-induced response of endogenous BGAT protein expression was not investigated in detail. We show two forms of endogenous BGAT immunoreactivity that are expressed in MDCK II cells.

The loss of the chloride channel, ClC-5, delays apical iodide efflux and induces a euthyroid goiter in the mouse thyroid gland.

Genetic inactivation of ClC-5, a voltage-gated chloride channel prominently expressed in the kidney, leads to proteinuria because of defective apical endocytosis in proximal tubular cells. Because thyroid hormone secretion depends on apical endocytosis of thyroglobulin (Tg), we investigated whether ClC-5 is expressed in the thyroid and affects its function, using Clcn5-deficient knockout (KO) mice. We found that ClC-5 is highly expressed in wild-type mouse thyroid ( approximately 40% of mRNA kidney level).

High citrate diet delays progression of renal insufficiency in the ClC-5 knockout mouse model of Dent's disease.

Background: Dent's disease, an X-linked renal tubular disorder, is characterized by low-molecular-weight proteinuria, hypercalciuria, nephrocalcinosis, nephrolithiasis, and progressive renal failure. Dent's disease results from mutations of the voltage-gated chloride channel CLC-5.

Methods: We studied the effect of zero and high citrate diet on renal function of ClC-5 knockout mice and wild-type mice.

ClC-5: role in endocytosis in the proximal tubule.

The proper functioning of the Cl(-) channel, ClC-5, is essential for the uptake of low molecular mass proteins through receptor-mediated endocytosis in the proximal tubule. Dent's disease patients with mutant ClC-5 channels and ClC-5 knockout (KO) mice both have low molecular mass proteinuria. To further understand the function of ClC-5, endocytosis was studied in LLC-PK(1) cells and primary cultures of proximal tubule cells from wild-type (WT) and ClC-5 KO kidneys.

Impaired acidification in early endosomes of ClC-5 deficient proximal tubule.

ClC-5 chloride channel deficiency causes proteinuria, hypercalciuria, and nephrolithiasis (Dent's disease). Impaired endosomal acidification in proximal tubule caused by reduced chloride conductance is a proposed mechanism; however, functional analysis of ClC-5 in oocytes predicts low ClC-5 chloride conductance in endosomes because of their acid interior pH and positive potential. Here, endosomal pH and chloride concentration were measured in proximal tubule cell cultures from wildtype vs.

Modulation of renal CNG-A3 sodium channel in rats subjected to low- and high-sodium diets.

In this work, we studied the mRNA distribution of CNG-A3, an amiloride-sensitive sodium channel that belongs to the cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) family of channels, along the rat nephron. The possible involvement of aldosterone in this process was also studied. We also evaluated its expression in rats subjected to diets with different concentrations of sodium or to alterations in aldosterone plasma levels.

Extracellular acidification alters lysosomal trafficking in human breast cancer cells.

Cancer cells invade by secreting degradative enzymes, which are sequestered in lysosomal vesicles. In this study, the impact of an acidic extracellular environment on lysosome size, number, and distance from the nucleus in human mammary epithelial cells (HMECs) and breast cancer cells of different degrees of malignancy was characterized because the physiological microenvironment of tumors is frequently characterized by extracellular acidity. An acidic extracellular pH (pH(e)) resulted in a distinct shift of lysosomes from the perinuclear region to the cell periphery irrespective of the HMECs' degree of malignancy.

Successful transgene expression with serial doses of aerosolized rAAV2 vectors in rhesus macaques.

Bronchoscopic microspraying of recombinant adeno-associated viral (rAAV) vectors targets high doses of vector directly to pulmonary epithelium. Single-dose endobronchial gene therapy trials have been accomplished in cystic fibrosis patients; however, repeated dosing strategies are likely essential for lifetime correction. These studies address whether serial redosing with rAAV2 vectors results in an antiserotypic response and, furthermore, whether it triggers an inflammatory response prohibitive to transgene expression.

Gene expression profile analysis of 4-phenylbutyrate treatment of IB3-1 bronchial epithelial cell line demonstrates a major influence on heat-shock proteins.

Most individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF) carry one or two mutations that result in a maturation defect of the full-length CFTR protein. The DeltaF508 mutation results in a mutant protein that is degraded by the proteosome instead of progressing to the apical membrane where it functions as a cAMP-regulated chloride channel. 4-Phenylbutyrate (PBA) modulates heat-shock protein expression and promotes trafficking of DeltaF508, thus permitting maturation and membrane insertion.

Organic solutes rescue the functional defect in delta F508 cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator.

The most common defect in cystic fibrosis, deletion of phenylalanine from position 508 of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (Delta F508 CFTR), decreases the trafficking of this protein to the cell surface membrane. Previous studies have shown that low temperature and high concentrations of glycerol or trimethylamine N-oxide can partially counteract the processing defect of Delta F508 CFTR. The present study investigates whether physiologically relevant concentrations of organic solutes, accumulated by cotransporter proteins, can rescue the misprocessing of Delta F508 CFTR.

A novel method of imaging lysosomes in living human mammary epithelial cells.

Cancer cells invade by secreting degradative enzymes which, under normal conditions, are sequestered in lysosomal vesicles. The ability to noninvasively label lysosomes and track lysosomal trafficking would be extremely useful to understand the mechanisms by which degradative enzymes are secreted in the presence of pathophysiological environments, such as hypoxia and acidic extracellular pH, which are frequently encountered in solid tumors. In this study, a novel method of introducing a fluorescent label into lysosomes of human mammary epithelial cells (HMECs) was evaluated.

Estrogen modulates ClC-2 chloride channel gene expression in rat kidney.

ClC-2 is a CLC family member of chloride channels sensitive to changes in cell volume, pH and voltage. The ClC-2 is widely distributed along the nephron although in the kidney its role still not well understood. Aldosterone studies suggest that ClC-2 expression in the kidney may be hormonally regulated.

The ClC-5 knockout mouse model of Dent's disease has renal hypercalciuria and increased bone turnover.

Dent's disease is a nephrolithiasis disorder associated with hypercalciuria and low molecular weight proteinuria that is caused by mutations in the voltage-gated chloride channel ClC-5. Because the exact cause of hypercalciuria in this disease is unknown and could come from a renal, intestinal, or bone origin, we have investigated overall calcium handling in the ClC-5 knockout mouse (ClC-5 KO). On a high calcium diet, ClC-5 KO mice had elevated serum 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1alpha,25D3), alkaline phosphatase (AP), osteocalcin (OC), and urinary deoxypyridinoline (DPD), but serum parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcium, and intestinal calcium uptake was similar to that of wild-type (WT) mice.

Tubular and cellular localization of the cardiac L-type calcium channel in rat kidney.

Background: The mRNAs of several types of calcium channels have been identified in intact rat kidney, and L-type calcium channels cause changes in intracellular calcium in primary cultures of distal tubule cells. The aim of this study was to evaluate the tubular and cellular distribution of the alpha1C subunit of the L-type calcium channel in intact kidney.

Methods: RT-PCR and Northern blot analysis were used to assess the regional abundance of the mRNA of this channel.