title: Amiloride-insensitive Na+-H+ exchange: a candidate mediator of erythrocyte Na+-Li+ countertransport.
abstract: Erythrocyte Na+-Li+ countertransport shows an increased activity in essential hypertension and diabetic nephropathy, but its nature remains unknown. This amiloride-insensitive membrane transport may not be a mode of operation of the amiloride-sensitive NHE1, the only Na+-H+ exchange isoform found in human erythrocytes. Whether an independent, although unknown, amiloride-insensitive isoform mediates Na+-Li+ countertransport is unclear. Na+-H+ exchange activity was measured in acid-loaded erythrocytes. Dimethylamiloride, a specific inhibitor of Na+-H+ exchange and phloretin, a known inhibitor of Na+-Li+ countertransport, gave a reduction in H+-driven Na+ influx (by 31 and 37%, respectively). This effect was additive, and a 66% reduction in H+-driven Na+ influx was found in the presence of both inhibitors. Internal acidification, a stimulus for Na+-H+ exchange, enhanced Na+-Li+ countertransport activity (from 287 +/- 55 to 1213 +/- 165 micromol x Lcell(-1) h(-1), mean +/- SEM, P = 0.003). This transport remained sensitive to phloretin under both conditions. Conversely, external acidification decreased Na+-Li+ countertransport activity (as expected for a Na+-H+ exchanger). Competition between internal H+ and Li+ or Na+ for a common binding site was present. Finally, similar kinetic parameters for external Na+ characterized Na+-Li+ countertransport and the phloretin-sensitive component of H+-driven Na+ influx. These findings suggest that both Na+-Li+ countertransport and the amiloride-insensitive, phloretin-sensitive component of H+-driven Na+ influx can be mediated by a previously unrecognized novel amiloride-insensitive Na+-H+ exchange isoform in human erythrocytes.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medicine, Scientific Institute San Raffaele, University of Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zerbini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maestroni
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mangili
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pozza
mesh_terms: D017878:4,4'-Diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-Disulfonic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D000584:Amiloride / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D017920:Antiporters / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects*; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D017136:Ion Transport / Q000187:drug effects*; D008094:Lithium / Q000097:blood*; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D010693:Phloretin / Q000494:pharmacology; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects*; D012964:Sodium / Q000097:blood*; D017923:Sodium-Hydrogen Exchangers / Q000187:drug effects*; D014634:Valinomycin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D017920:Antiporters; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D017923:Sodium-Hydrogen Exchangers; C045885:sodium-lithium countertransporter; D014634:Valinomycin; C039465:5-dimethylamiloride; D000584:Amiloride; D008094:Lithium; D012964:Sodium; D017878:4,4'-Diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-Disulfonic Acid; D010693:Phloretin