title: A regulated apical Na(+) conductance in dexamethasone-treated H441 airway epithelial cells.
abstract: Treating H441 cells with dexamethasone raised the abundance of mRNA encoding the epithelial Na(+) channel alpha- and beta-subunits and increased transepithelial ion transport (measured as short-circuit current, I(sc)) from <4 microA.cm(-2) to 10-20 microA.cm(-2). This dexamethasone-stimulated ion transport was blocked by amiloride analogs with a rank order of potency of benzamil >or= amiloride > EIPA and can thus be attributed to active Na(+) absorption. Studies of apically permeabilized cells showed that this increased transport activity did not reflect a rise in Na(+) pump capacity, whereas studies of basolateral permeabilized cells demonstrated that dexamethasone increased apical Na(+) conductance (G(Na)) from a negligible value to 100-200 microS.cm(-2). Experiments that explored the ionic selectivity of this dexamethasone-induced conductance showed that it was equally permeable to Na(+) and Li(+) and that the permeability to these cations was approximately fourfold greater than to K(+). There was also a small permeability to N-methyl-d-glucammonium, a nominally impermeant cation. Forskolin, an agent that increases cellular cAMP content, caused an approximately 60% increase in I(sc), and measurements made after these cells had been basolaterally permeabilized demonstrated that this response was associated with a rise in G(Na). This cAMP-dependent control over G(Na) was disrupted by brefeldin A, an inhibitor of vesicular trafficking. Dexamethasone thus stimulates Na(+) transport in H441 cells by evoking expression of an amiloride-sensitive apical conductance that displays moderate ionic selectivity and is subject to acute control via a cAMP-dependent pathway.
authors.affiliation: Division of Maternal and Child Health Sciences, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 9SY, UK.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Ramminger
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Richard
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Inglis
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Land
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Olver
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Wilson
mesh_terms: D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D016764:Cell Polarity / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005576:Colforsin / Q000494:pharmacology; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053503:Epithelial Sodium Channels; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism; D015222:Sodium Channels / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D053503:Epithelial Sodium Channels; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015222:Sodium Channels; D005576:Colforsin; D003907:Dexamethasone; D012964:Sodium