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S R Gullans

Publications and source records attributed to S R Gullans.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Expression of the Na(+)-K(+)-2Cl- cotransporter BSC2 in the nervous system.

We used in situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry with polyclonal antibodies against the mouse bumetanide-sensitive Na(+)-K(+)-2Cl- cotransporter (mBSC2) to determine the location of this cotransporter in rat brain. Northern blots and in situ hybridization showed the presence of cotransporter mRNA in the brain, with an especially high level of expression in the choroid plexus (CP). Affinity-purified anti-BSC2 antibody identified proteins of 145-155 kDa on Western blot analysis and immunoprecipitation of brain and CP membrane protein. Indirect immunofluorescence demonstrated that BSC2 protein is located on the apical surface of the CP and is heterogeneously distributed in cell bodies and dendrites of neurons in the central and peripheral nervous system. The apical localization of BSC2 in the CP was confirmed by 86Rb+ uptakes in primary cultures of CP cells grown on permeable filters and confocal immunofluorescence microscopy. The apical localization of the cotransporter in CP epithelium suggests a role for the cotransporter in cerebrospinal fluid K+ homeostasis. In neurons, the cotransporter may help regulate intracellular Cl- concentration and thereby affect neuronal response to gamma-aminobutyric acid.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Induction of molecular chaperones by hyperosmotic stress in mouse inner medullary collecting duct cells.

The extreme hyperosmotic conditions that exist in the renal inner medulla enable the urinary concentrating mechanism to function. In this study, we evaluated whether stress-related molecular chaperones are induced in response to hyperosmotic stress in mouse inner medullary collecting duct (mIMCD3) cells. Exposure of cells to medium supplemented with 100 mM NaCl for 4 or 24 h resulted in an increase in heat shock protein-72 (HSP-72) (inducible form) by Western blot. Immunocytochemistry confirmed the increase of HSP-72 and showed that hyperosmotic stress resulted in a localization of HSP-72 predominantly to the nucleoplasm that surrounds the nucleoli and to the cytoplasm, a subcellular distribution pattern different from that seen with heat shock. Using a denatured protein (casein)-affinity column with ATP elution, we identified a number of putative molecular chaperones (46, 60, 78, and 200 kDa) that are upregulated in response to 4 h of hyperosmotic NaCl treatment. Microsequencing identified one of these proteins to be the mitochondrial chaperone mtHSP-70, a member of HSP-70 family, and another to be similar to beta-actin. We also found high levels of HSP-72 in cells chronically adapted to hypertonicity, indicating that chaperones are still required to maintain certain cellular functions even after nonperturbing organic osmolytes are known to accumulate. These results suggest an important role for molecular chaperones in the adaptation of renal medullary epithelial cells to the hyperosmotic conditions that exist in the inner medulla in vivo.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Urea inducibility of egr-1 in murine inner medullary collecting duct cells is mediated by the serum response element and adjacent Ets motifs.

The renal medullary solute urea increases transcription and protein expression of the zinc finger-containing transcription factor Egr-1 in a renal epithelial cell-specific fashion. Transient transfection of mIMCD3 cells with a luciferase reporter gene driven by 1.2 kilobases of the murine egr-1 5'-flanking sequence showed 4-fold increase in reporter gene activity with 200 mM urea treatment. The effect of impermeant solutes such as NaCl was much less pronounced, whereas the permeant solute glycerol had no effect. In addition, this same sequence, minus the egr-1 minimal promoter, conferred urea responsiveness to a heterologous (thymidine kinase) promoter. Whereas deletion of two putative AP-1 sites from the sequence had no effect upon urea inducibility, elimination of the five putative serum response elements (SREs) abolished the urea effect. Progressive deletion of the SREs caused a corresponding diminution in urea effect. Two key tandem SREs (SRE-3 and SRE-4), in conjunction with their two adjacent clusters of Ets motifs, were sufficient to confer urea responsiveness to a reporter gene. This response was markedly attenuated in the absence of either cluster of Ets motifs and was abolished if both clusters were deleted. By electrophoretic mobility shift assay, formation of the ternary complex was constitutive and was demonstrable in vitro despite the presence of 200 mosm urea or NaCl. Therefore urea-inducible egr-1 transcription in renal medullary cells is mediated through the SRE and adjacent Ets motifs; ternary complex formation is not inhibited even in the presence of physiological hyperosmolality.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Osmotic stress protein 94 (Osp94). A new member of the Hsp110/SSE gene subfamily.

Preservation of cell viability and function in the hyperosmolar environment of the renal medulla is a complex process that requires selective gene expression. We have identified a new member of the heat shock protein (hsp) 70 superfamily that is up-regulated in renal inner medullary collecting duct cells (mIMCD3 cells) during exposure to hyperosmotic NaCl stress. Known as osmotic stress protein 94, or Osp94, this 2935-base pair cDNA encodes an 838-amino acid protein that shows greatest homology to the recently discovered hsp110/SSE gene subfamily. Like the hsps, Osp94 has a putative amino-terminal ATP-binding domain and a putative carboxyl-terminal peptide-binding domain. The in vitro translated Osp94 product migrated as a 105-110-kDa protein on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. In mIMCD3 cells, Osp94 mRNA expression was greatly up-regulated by hyperosmotic NaCl or heat stress. In mouse kidney, Osp94 mRNA expression paralleled the known corticomedullary osmolality gradient showing highest expression in the inner medulla. Moreover, inner medullary Osp94 expression was increased during water restriction when osmolality is known to increase. Thus, Osp94 is a new member of the hsp110/SSE stress protein subfamily and likely acts as a molecular chaperone.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Urea signaling in cultured murine inner medullary collecting duct (mIMCD3) cells involves protein kinase C, inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3), and a putative receptor tyrosine kinase.

Urea, in concentrations unique to the renal medulla, increases transcription and protein expression of several immediate-early genes (IEGs) including the zinc finger-containing transcription factor, Egr-1. In the present study, the proximal 1.2 kb of the murine Egr-1 5' -flanking sequence conferred urea-responsiveness to a heterologous luciferase reporter gene when transiently transfected into renal medullary mIMCD3 cells,and this effect was comparable with that of the extremely potent immediate-early gene inducer, O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA). Urea inducibility of Egr-1 expression was protein kinase C (PKC)-dependent because staurosporine and calphostin C abrogated the urea effect, and down-regulation of PHC through chronic TPa treatment inhibited both urea-inducible Egr-1 protein expression and gene transcription. In addition, hyperosmotic urea increased inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) release from mIMCD3 cells and induced tyrosine phosphorylation of the receptor tyrosine kinase-specific phospholipase C (PLC) isoform, PLC-gamma. Importantly, urea-inducible Egr-1 expression was strongly genistein-sensitive, to a much greater extent than the comparable TPA-inducible Egr-1 expression. These data suggest that urea-inducible Egr-1 expression is a consequence of sequential PLC-gamma activation, IP3 release, and PKC activation. Urea-inducible PLC-gamma activation, in conjunction with the genistein-sensitivity of urea-inducible Egr-1 expression suggest the possibility of a cell surface or cytoplasmic urea-sensing receptor tyrosine kinase.

Alkaloids↗
PubMed1996

Transcriptional responses to tubule challenges.

Adaptation to physiological stimuli often involves changes in gene transcription. Studies of hyperosmolar stress in renal epithelial cells have provided an ideal paradigm for understanding regulation of gene expression. Renal epithelial cells respond very differently to hyperosmolar NaCl and urea and several strategies including cloning based on known biological function, candidate gene analysis, and differential display analysis have successfully identified many genes induced by these hyperosmolar challenges. Hyperosmolar NaCl produces adverse effects on cellular biosynthetic processes and compensatory increases are observed in transcription of transporters, stress proteins, and metabolic enzymes. In contrast, hyperosmolar urea fails to inhibit biosynthetic processes but, nonetheless, initiates a very specific program of gene expression in renal epithelial cells. This program appears to involve a urea sensor/receptor system which activates transcription and translation of the zinc-finger transcription factor Egr-1. This work highlights the concept that rapid analysis of differential gene expression will enable one to define cellular programs of gene expression involving up- and down-regulation of functionally-related gene families.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Localization of the thiazide sensitive Na-Cl cotransporter, rTSC1 in the rat kidney.

A thiazide sensitive Na-Cl cotransporter, rTSC1, has recently been cloned from a rat kidney cortex cDNA library. The molecular regulation and nephron localization of this protein is unknown. The purpose of this study was to examine the nephron distribution and subcellular localization of the rTSC1 protein in the rat kidney. In situ hybridization showed rTSC1 transcripts were localized to short, convoluted tubule segments in the kidney cortex. Polyclonal antibodies raised against a 110 amino acid segment from the amino terminus of rTSC1 recognized three major bands of 135, 140 and 155 kDa on Western blotting of membrane protein from cortex but not outer medulla of the rat kidney. Immunofluorescence studies using the antibody alone and in double labeling experiments with antibodies against the H+ ATPase and calbindin D28, showed intense labeling of apical membranes in the distal nephron beginning in the initial distal convoluted tubule and terminating within the connecting tubule. The intensity of labeling diminished from proximal to distal sites along the distal tubule. Ultrastructural studies by immunoelectron microscopy showed the cotransporter protein to be localized predominately on apical microvilli of the distal convoluted tubule cells. These results are consistent with rTSC1 encoding the apical thiazide sensitive Na-Cl cotransporter in the distal tubule.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Cerebral cell volume regulation during hypernatremia in developing rats.

Cell volume regulation is a vital biological function in all species. Maintenance of cerebral cell size in the face of osmotic stress is especially important because the brain is contained in the non-complaint skull. The developmental aspects of this adaptive process are not known. Therefore, we evaluated cerebral cell volume regulation during hypernatremia in pre-weaning and adult rats. Hypernatremia was induced by injections of 1 M NaCl for 48 h. Brain water, electrolyte, and organic osmolyte contents were measured in hypernatremia and sham injected littermate control rats at the following ages: 12, 18 and 20 days and adults. In normonatremic rats, there was a steady decline in brain water content during development that was paralleled by a gradual fall in the cerebral levels of Na+, K+, and all organic osmolytes. The change in brain water content correlated most closely with the decrease in cerebral taurine content. In the face of equivalent elevations in serum Na+ concentration, there was comparable brain cell shrinkage and similar increases in total cerebral electrolyte and organic osmolyte content in rats at all 4 ages studied. Taurine was the predominant organic osmolyte prior to weaning, constituting 16-49% of the increment in nonperturbing solute content in hypernatremic animals between 12-20 days of age; in contrast, taurine contributed only 10% to the cerebral organic osmolyte pool in adult rats. We conclude that the capacity of brain cells to accumulate inorganic electrolytes and organic osmolytes during adaptation to hypernatremia is adequately expressed in developing rats, aged 12 days or older. Moreover, we speculate that the immature animal behaves as if it has an elevated 'set point' to protect the higher brain water content that is present earlier in development.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1995

Role of basolateral Na(+)-K(+)-Cl- cotransport in HCl secretion by amphibian gastric mucosa.

In amphibians and mammals, luminal H+ secretion by the stomach requires Cl-. It is widely accepted that a basolateral Cl-/HCO3- exchanger in the acid-secreting oxyntic cell restores the Cl- deficit resulting from apical HCl secretion. In this study, we used reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to generate a 1,200-bp fragment specific to a basolateral isoform of the Na(+)-K(+)-Cl- cotransporter in the gastric fundus of Necturus maculosus. By Northern analysis, we observed that gastric mucosa expresses greater than fivefold higher levels of mRNA encoding this cotransporter than any other tissue in the gastrointestinal tract. Feeding results in > 100% increases in mRNA levels in acid-secreting fundic mucosa but does not alter mRNA levels in the neighboring and non-acid-secreting antral mucosa or duodenum. Flux measurements using in vitro fundic mucosae indicate that acid secretion requires Na+ in the nutrient (i.e., serosal side) perfusate, is modulated by changes in nutrient K+ levels, and is inhibited by nutrient solutions containing 50 microM bumetanide, a recognized blocker of Na(+)-K(+)-Cl- cotransport. These findings suggest that this basolateral transporter plays a dominant and previously unsuspected role in secretion of HCl across the apical membrane.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Na+/H+ exchanger isoforms NHE-2 and NHE-1 in inner medullary collecting duct cells. Expression, functional localization, and differential regulation.

Recent cloning experiments have identified the existance of four distinct Na+/H+ exchanger isoforms designated as NHE-1, NHE-2, NHE-3, and NHE-4. The cellular distribution, subcellular localization, and regulation of one of these isoforms, NHE-2, in the kidney remains unknown. Northern hybridization showed that NHE-2, along with NHE-1, is expressed in cultured renal medullary collecting duct (mIMCD-3) cells. Acid-stimulated, dimethyl amiloride-sensitive 22Na+ uptake and sodium-dependent pHi recovery occurred only from the basolateral surface of the cells, indicating localization of Na+/H+ exchanger to the basolateral membrane domain. Incubation of IMCD cells in high osmolality media (510 mosm/liter) for 72 h stimulated the Na+/H+ exchanger activity by 59% (p < 0.001). NHE-1 mRNA abundance decreased, whereas NHE-2 mRNA increased in high osmolality media. Incubation of IMCD cells in acid media (pH 7.1) for 48 h did not affect the Na+/H+ exchanger activity compared with control (pH 7.4) (p > 0.05). Northern hybridization, however, indicated that NHE-1 mRNA increased, whereas NHE-2 mRNA decreased in acid media. In conclusion, mIMCD-3 cells express NHE-1 and NHE-2 mRNAs. The cell functional studies in mIMCD-3 cells strongly suggest that NHE-2, along with NHE-1, is expressed in the basolateral membrane domain. They further demonstrate differential regulation of NHE-1 and NHE-2 mRNAs in response to acidosis and high osmolality and suggest that NHE-2 may be involved in volume regulation of IMCD cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Molecular cloning and chromosome localization of a putative basolateral Na(+)-K(+)-2Cl- cotransporter from mouse inner medullary collecting duct (mIMCD-3) cells.

Electroneutral Na(+)-K(+)-2Cl- cotransporters represent one of the major routes for Cl- movement in epithelia. A secretory form of the cotransporter has been described in the basolateral membrane of a variety of epithelia from fish to mammals. We isolated a putative bumetanide-sensitive Na(+)-K(+)-2Cl- cotransporter cDNA, BSC2, from mIMCD-3 cells. Northern analysis indicates that in contrast to BSC1, the recently cloned renal-specific apical isoform of the cotransporter, BSC2 is expressed in secretory epithelia and thus appears to represent the basolateral isoform. Furthermore, BSC2 is also expressed in non-polarized cells, such as red cells and myocytes. Sequence comparison and chromosome localization demonstrate that BSC2 and BSC1 are different genes that diverged before the evolution of vertebrates.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Hyperosmotic urea increases transcription and synthesis of Egr-1 in murine inner medullary collecting duct (mIMCD3) cells.

It was previously shown that when cells of renal epithelial origin are exposed to hyperosmotic urea in concentrations unique to the renal medulla, abundance of mRNA encoding the immediate-early gene product Egr-1 is up-regulated. This phenomenon appears restricted to cells of renal epithelial origin. In the present study, the newly isolated murine renal inner medullary cell line mIMCD3 was used to determine whether the urea-induced increase in Egr-1 mRNA abundance is associated with increased expression of functional protein product, and whether this increase is transcriptionally mediated. In Western analysis, urea (200 mM) increased Egr-1 immunoreactivity 3-fold relative to sham-treated cells. [35S]Methionine pulse-labeling followed by immunoprecipitation confirmed that this increased immunoreactivity was associated with increased de novo Egr-1 protein synthesis. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay demonstrated that urea treatment induced a commensurate increase in specific DNA binding activity for the Egr-1 consensus sequence. In addition, the increase in Egr-1 mRNA expression accompanying urea treatment was a consequence of enhanced transcription, as determined by nuclear run-off assay. Taken together, these data indicate that hyperosmotic urea increases both Egr-1 transcription and new protein synthesis in renal epithelial cells in culture, and that this newly synthesized Egr-1 is a functional DNA-binding protein. To our knowledge, this is the first example of urea-inducible gene transcription. In addition, Egr-1 represents the first eukaryotic transcription factor transcriptionally activated by a hyperosmotic stressor.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Cell volume and K+ transport during differentiation of mouse erythroleukemia cells.

In the present study, we evaluated the changes in cell volume, water content, and K+ transport in mouse erythroleukemia (MEL) cells during the transition from proerythroblast to young reticulocyte. When MEL cells were exposed to 1.8% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) for a maximum of 7 days, they synthesized hemoglobin and reduced their volume by 66% while maintaining their water content. The total protein content decreased by 50%. We therefore concluded that the volume reduction was due to a loss of cellular material, water, and osmolytes. To evaluate the changes in pump and leak pathways, we performed 86Rb uptakes in the presence or absence of selected inhibitors. In undifferentiated cells, the uptake was mainly represented by the Na-K-2Cl cotransport (51%) and by the Na(+)-K+ pump (34%). A small portion of the uptake was mediated by barium- and quinidine-sensitive K+ channels (8%) and by the furosemide-sensitive K-Cl cotransporter (5%). After 4 days in DMSO, the 86Rb uptake was reduced by 57%, mainly due to a substantial (90%) decrease in Na-K-2Cl cotransport activity. The Na(+)-independent K-Cl cotransport activity also dramatically decreased by a factor of 10. In contrast, the Na(+)-K+ pump activity did not change after 4 days in DMSO. These results demonstrate a marked reduction in the activities of inorganic ion cotransport systems as red blood cells differentiate to reticulocytes. Our study also demonstrates that a strong correlation exists between cell volume reduction and a decrease in the main inward leak pathway for K+: the Na-K-2Cl cotransporter.

Animals↗