Inhibitor of growth 4 (ING4) is up-regulated by a low K intake and suppresses renal outer medullary K channels (ROMK) by MAPK stimulation.
Dietary K intake plays an important role in the regulation of renal K secretion: a high K intake stimulates whereas low K intake suppresses renal K secretion. Our previous studies demonstrated that the Src family protein-tyrosine kinase and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) are involved in mediating the effect of low K intake on renal K channels and K secretion. However, the molecular mechanism by which low K intake stimulates MAPK is not completely understood. Here we show that inhibitor of growth 4 (ING4), a protein with a highly conserved plant homeodomain finger motif, is involved in mediating the effect of low K intake on MAPK. K restriction stimulates the expression of ING4 in the kidney and superoxide anions, and its related products are involved in mediating the effect of low K intake on ING4 expression. We used HEK293 cells to express ING4 and observed that expression of ING4 increased the phosphorylation of p38 and ERK MAPK, whereas down-regulation of ING4 with small interfering RNA decreased the phosphorylation of p38 and ERK. Immunocytochemistry showed that ING4 was expressed in the renal outer medullary potassium (ROMK)-positive tubules. Moreover, ING4 decreased K currents in Xenopus oocytes injected with ROMK channel cRNA. This inhibitory effect was reversed by blocking p38 and ERK MAPK. These data provide evidence for the role of ING4 in mediating the effect of low K intake on ROMK channel activity by stimulation of p38 and ERK MAPK.
Zhang
Xin
X
Shanghai-Ministry Key Laboratory of Disease and Health Genomics, Chinese National Human Genome Center, Shanghai 201203, China.
Lin
Dao-Hong
DH
Jin
Yan
Y
Wang
Ke-Sheng
KS
Zhang
Yan
Y
Babilonia
Elisa
E
Wang
Zhijian
Z
Wang
Zhiqin
Z
Giebisch
Gerhard
G
Han
Ze-Guang
ZG
Wang
Wen-Hui
WH
D000818:Animals; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002460:Cell Line; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D005260:Female; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism*; D024661:Potassium Channels, Inwardly Rectifying / Q000378:metabolism*; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D015854:Up-Regulation; D014982:Xenopus laevis
D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; C483230:ING4 protein, human; C521470:ING4 protein, rat; D024661:Potassium Channels, Inwardly Rectifying; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D013481:Superoxides; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D011188:Potassium