Biomedical subjects
Volker Vallon
Publications and source records attributed to Volker Vallon.
Regulation of KCNE1-dependent K(+) current by the serum and glucocorticoid-inducible kinase (SGK) isoforms.
The slowly activating K(+) channel subunit KCNE1 is expressed in a variety of tissues including proximal renal tubules, cardiac myocytes and stria vascularis of inner ear. The present study has been performed to explore whether the serum- and glucocorticoid-inducible kinase family members SGK1, SGK2, or SGK3 and/or protein kinase B (PKB) influence K(+) channel activity in Xenopus oocytes expressing KCNE1. cRNA encoding KCNE1 was injected with or without cRNA encoding wild-type SGK1, constitutively active (S422D)SGK1, inactive (K127 N)SGK1, wild-type SGK2, wild-type SGK3 or constitutively active (T308D,S473D)PKB. In oocytes injected with KCNE1 cRNA but not in water-injected oocytes a depolarization from -80 mV to -10 mV led to the appearance of a slowly activating K(+) current. Coexpression of SGK1,( S422D)SGK1, SGK2, SGK3 or (T308D,S473D)PKB but not (K127 N)SGK1 significantly stimulated KCNE1-induced current. The effect did not depend on Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase activity. KCNE1-induced current was markedly upregulated by coexpression of KCNQ1 and further increased by additional expression of (S422D)SGK1, SGK2, SGK3 or (T308D,S473D)PKB. In conclusion, all three members of the SGK family of kinases SGK1-3 and protein kinase B stimulate the slowly activating K(+) channel KCNE1/KCNQ1. The kinases may thus participate in the regulation of KCNE1-dependent transport and excitability.
Tubuloglomerular feedback in the kidney: insights from gene-targeted mice.
The term tubuloglomerular feedback (TGF) refers to a series of events whereby changes in the concentration of Na(+), Cl(-) and K(+) in the distal tubular fluid are sensed by the macula densa and elicit reciprocal changes in nephron filtration rate (SNGFR). Although micropuncture experiments in the rat and studies in the isolated perfused rabbit juxtaglomerular apparatus (JGA) have yielded significant insights into TGF, many aspects, including the signal transduction and modulation in JGA and the role of TGF in physiology and pathophysiology, are still incompletely understood. This is due in part to the lack of selective drugs for inhibiting or activating a given molecule of interest and to the limited accessibility of target structures or molecules. Adaptation of single-nephron methods to gene-targeted mice is a promising approach for gaining further insights into TGF. The gist of the presently available studies in gene-targeted mice that are reviewed here support the concept that (i) adenosine mediates TGF by activation of adenosine A(1) receptors; (ii) that this response is modulated inversely by nitric oxide synthase 1 activity in macula densa and activation of angiotensin II AT(1A) receptors; and (iii) that the TGF-dependent reduction in SNGFR prevents excessive renal fluid and salt loss during primary inhibition of reabsorption upstream from the macula densa.
The complex role of nitric oxide in the regulation of glomerular ultrafiltration.
The complex role of nitric oxide in the regulation of glomerular ultrafiltration. Nitric oxide is an important neurohumoral modulator of glomerular ultrafiltration and renal hemodynamics. Multiple nitric oxide synthase (NOS) isoforms are present within the kidney. However, it is difficult to discern which NOS is most active from prior studies using non-selective NOS blockers. It is recently apparent that NOS activity is important to the activity of tubuloglomerular feedback (TGF) systems, systems that relate tubular reabsorption to the regulation of glomerular ultrafiltration. Neuronal (nNOS) or brain NOS (bNOS; NOS I) is present within the macula densa, the sensing element of TGF systems. Inhibition of NOS activity and specifically bNOS enhances TGF activity. The TGF system also adapts temporally and these events appear to be dependent upon up-regulation of activity of bNOS within the kidney. Temporal adaptation occurs within one to three hours whereby activation of TGF is followed by a gradual return of the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and renal blood flow toward normal levels. After 24 hours of benzolamide treatment and withdrawal of this agent, glomerular filtration actually increases to supranormal levels and this is prevented by inhibition of bNOS activity. Factors regulating bNOS activity have not been fully clarified. We have recently observed N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors within the kidney that, when inhibited, result in major reductions in renal blood flow and GFR, suggesting an important role for the NMDA receptor in regulation of renal hemodynamics. Future studies will determine whether NMDA receptor is also an important regulator of bNOS activity and the TGF system.
Salt-sensitivity of proximal reabsorption alters macula densa salt and explains the paradoxical effect of dietary salt on glomerular filtration rate in diabetes mellitus.
GFR varies inversely with dietary NaCl in patients with early type I diabetes and in streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic rats. To explain this paradox within the laws of physiology, it was hypothesized that it results from heightened sensitivity of the diabetic proximal tubule to dietary salt because changes in proximal reabsorption (Jprox) elicit reciprocal adjustments in GFR through the normal actions of tubuloglomerular feedback (TGF). Micropuncture was done in rats after 5 wk of moderately hyperglycemic STZ-diabetes and 1 wk of different NaCl diets. First, single-nephron GFR (SNGFR) and early distal tubular Na(+), Cl(-) and K(+) concentration (representing the TGF signal) were measured by collecting from early distal nephrons. In nondiabetics, dietary salt did not affect SNGFR or the TGF signal. In diabetics, the TGF signal varied directly with dietary salt while SNGFR varied inversely with dietary salt. Next, Jprox was measured by collecting from late proximal tubules. To control for different SNGFR, SNGFR was manipulated by perfusing Henle's loop to alter TGF activity. Controlling for SNGFR, dietary salt did not affect Jprox in nondiabetics but exerted a major inverse impact on Jprox in diabetics. In conclusion, normal rats acclimate to dietary NaCl by primarily adjusting transport downstream of the macula densa. In contrast, diabetes renders reabsorption in the proximal tubule sensitive to dietary NaCl with subsequent effects on the TGF signal. This explains the paradoxical effect of dietary NaCl on GFR in early diabetes.
Protein kinase C beta isoenzymes in diabetic kidneys and their relation to nephroprotective actions of the ACE inhibitor lisinopril.
Inhibitors of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) or beta isoforms of protein kinase C (PKC) are nephroprotective in diabetes mellitus. We investigated the influence of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes mellitus and of treatment with the ACE inhibitor lisinopril (4 mg/kg p.o. twice daily for 4 weeks) on the expression of PKC beta 1 and PKC beta 2 in the renal cortex of female Sprague-Dawley rats. Immunohistochemistry indicated an enhanced renocortical accumulation of macrophages expressing both MHC II, a marker for antigen-presenting cells, as well as PKC beta 2 in STZ diabetes which was confirmed by Western blotting demonstrating an enhanced renocortical expression of MHC II (1.8-fold) as well as of membrane-associated PKC beta 2 (1.9-fold). Whereas immunohistochemistry could not detect unequivocal alterations, Western blotting showed a rise in the renocortical expression of membrane-associated PKC beta 1 (1.7-fold) in STZ diabetes. Lisinopril lowered renocortical albumin content and proteinuria in STZ diabetes and attenuated the enhanced accumulation of macrophages expressing PKC beta 2 as well as the increase of membrane-associated expression of PKC beta 1 and PKC beta 2 in the renal cortex. The data suggest that the nephroprotective actions of the ACE inhibitor lisinopril in experimental diabetes mellitus were associated with and thus could be mediated in part by inhibition of diabetes-induced activation of PKC beta isoenzymes in the renal cortex.
Impaired renal Na(+) retention in the sgk1-knockout mouse.
The serum- and glucocorticoid-regulated kinase (sgk1) is induced by mineralocorticoids and, in turn, upregulates heterologously expressed renal epithelial Na(+) channel (ENaC) activity in Xenopus oocytes. Accordingly, Sgk1 is considered to mediate the mineralocorticoid stimulation of renal ENaC activity and antinatriuresis. Here we show that at standard NaCl intake, renal water and electrolyte excretion is indistinguishable in sgk1-knockout (sgk1(-/-)) mice and wild-type (sgk1(+/+)) mice. In contrast, dietary NaCl restriction reveals an impaired ability of sgk1(-/-) mice to adequately decrease Na(+) excretion despite increases in plasma aldosterone levels and proximal-tubular Na(+) and fluid reabsorption, as well as decreases in blood pressure and glomerular filtration rate.
Human C-peptide acutely lowers glomerular hyperfiltration and proteinuria in diabetic rats: a dose-response study.
Recent studies suggested that C-peptide treatment of C-peptide-deficient patients with type I diabetes mellitus may present a new approach to prevent diabetic nephropathy. The present study further elucidated this concept by assessing the acute effect of human C-peptide application on kidney function in anesthetized rats with streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes. Human C-peptide was applied as an i.v. bolus followed by continuous infusion of a fivefold dose per hour. A dose of 6 nmol/kg plus 30 nmol/kg per h is referred to as 1x. Application of 0.1, 0.3, 1, 3 or 10x to STZ-diabetic rats elicited mean plasma human C-peptide concentrations of 0.5, 5, 24, 75 and 225 nmol/l, respectively. Under basal conditions STZ-diabetic rats exhibited as expected an increase in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) by about 30%, which was associated with a lower total renal vascular resistance (RVR) and a rise in renal blood flow (RBF) as well as enhanced urinary protein excretion (UPE) of about 70% as compared with control rats. Human C-peptide dose-dependently lowered GFR and UPE in STZ-diabetic rats without altering blood glucose levels. No significant effect of human C-peptide on RBF or RVR could be detected, which may indicate an effect on glomerular ultrafiltration coefficient. Maximum effects of human C-peptide on the diabetes-induced rises in GFR and UPE established an inhibition of 40% and 50%, respectively. Half-maximum effects on GFR and UPE were observed at plasma concentrations of human C-peptide in the range of 0.5-5 nmol/l, which is relatively close to endogenous C-peptide levels in non-diabetic rats. Unresponsiveness of non-diabetic control rats to human C-peptide further indicated specific effects.
Role of KCNE1-dependent K+ fluxes in mouse proximal tubule.
The electrochemical gradient for K+ across the luminal membrane of the proximal tubule favors K+ fluxes to the lumen. Here it was demonstrated by immunohistochemistry that KCNE1 and KCNQ1, which form together the slowly activated component of the delayed rectifying K+ current in the heart, also colocalize in the luminal membrane of proximal tubule in mouse kidney. Micropuncture experiments revealed a reduced K+ concentration in late proximal and early distal tubular fluid as well as a reduced K+ delivery to these sites in KCNE1 knockout (-/-), compared with wild-type (+/+) mice. These observations would be consistent with KCNE1-dependent K+ fluxes to the lumen in proximal tubule. Electrophysiological studies in isolated perfused proximal tubules indicated that this K+ flux is essential to counteract membrane depolarization due to electrogenic Na+-coupled transport of glucose or amino acids. Clearance studies revealed an enhanced fractional urinary excretion of fluid, Na+, Cl-, and glucose in KCNE1 -/- compared with KCNE1 +/+ mice that may relate to an attenuated transport in proximal tubule and contribute to volume depletion in these mice, as indicated by higher hematocrit values.
Feedback control of glomerular vascular tone in neuronal nitric oxide synthase knockout mice.
For further elucidation of the role of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in macula densa (MD) cells, experiments were performed in anesthetized nNOS knockout mice (nNOS -/-). At comparable levels of arterial BP, renal blood flow was not significantly different between nNOS +/+ and nNOS -/- (1.7 +/- 0.2 versus 1.4 +/- 0.1 ml/min), and autoregulation of renal blood flow was maintained to a pressure level of approximately 85 mmHg in both groups of mice (n = 6 in each group). The fall in proximal tubular stop-flow pressure in response to an increase in loop of Henle perfusion rate from 0 to 30 nl/min was comparable in nNOS +/+ and -/- mice (40.7 +/- 1.6 to 32 +/- 2 mmHg versus 40.6 +/- 1.6 to 31.6 +/- 2 mmHg; not significant; n = 13 versus 18 nephrons). Luminal application of the nonselective NOS inhibitor nitro-L-arginine (10(-3) and 10(-2) M) enhanced the perfusion-dependent fall in stop-flow pressure in nNOS +/+ (7 +/- 1 to 13 +/- 2 mmHg; P < 0.05) but not in nNOS -/- (7 +/- 1 to 8 +/- 1 mmHg; not significant) mice. nNOS -/- mice exhibited a lower nephron filtration rate, compared with nNOS +/+, during free-flow collections from early distal tubules (influence of MD intact, 7 +/- 0.7 versus 10.9 +/- 1 nl/min; P = 0.002) but not from late proximal tubule (influence of MD minimized, 10.1 +/- 1 versus 11.7 +/- 1 nl/min; not significant; n = 16 nephrons). Distal Cl concentration and fractional absorption of fluid or chloride up to the early distal tubule was not different between nNOS -/- and +/+ mice. The data indicate that nNOS in MD tonically attenuates the GFR-lowering influence of ambient luminal NaCl, which may serve to increase the fluid and electrolyte load to the distal tubule, consistent with a role of MD nNOS in tubuloglomerular feedback resetting.