title: Potassium-chloride cotransporter mediates cell cycle progression and proliferation of human corneal epithelial cells.
abstract: Epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced proliferation of corneal epithelial cells contributes to its renewal, which maintains the protective and refractive properties of the cornea. This study characterized in human corneal epithelial cells (HCEC) the role of the potassium-chloride cotransporter (KCC) in mediating (1) EGF-induced mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway activation; (2) increases in cell cycle progression; and (3) proliferation. The KCC inhibitor [(dihydroindenyl)oxy] alkanoic acid (DIOA) and KCC activator N-ethylmaleimide (NEM), suppressed and enhanced EGF-induced p44/42MAPK activation, respectively. Such selective modulation was mirrored by corresponding changes in cell proliferation and shifts in cell cycle distribution. DIOA induced a 20% increase in G(0)/G(1)-phase cell population, whereas NEM induced a 22% increase in the proportion of cells in the G(2)/M-phase and accelerated the transition from G(0)/G(1)-phase to the S-phase. Associated with these changes, KCC1 content in a plasma membrane enriched fraction increased by 300%. Alterations in regulatory volume capacity were associated with corresponding changes in both KCC1 membrane content and activity. These results indicate that EGF-induced increases in KCC1 activity and content modulate cell volume changes required for (1) activation of the p44/42MAPK signaling pathway, (2) cell cycle progression, and (3) increases in cell proliferation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, State University of New York, State College of Optometry, New York, New York 10036, USA.
authors.forename: José E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Capó-Aponte
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: M A Murat
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Akinci
authors.forename: J Mario
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Wolosin
authors.forename: Kathryn S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Pokorny
authors.forename: Pavel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Iserovish
authors.forename: Peter S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Reinach
mesh_terms: D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000502:physiology*; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D048429:Cell Size; D003315:Cornea / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D027981:Symporters / Q000502:physiology*; D000096922:K Cl- Cotransporters
chemical_list: D027981:Symporters; D000096922:K Cl- Cotransporters