title: Functional analysis of acid-activated Cl⁻ channels: properties and mechanisms of regulation.
abstract: Cl⁻ channels activated by acidic extracellular pH have been observed in various mammalian cells but their molecular identity and mechanisms of regulation are unknown. The aim of this study was to analyse the acid-activated Cl- current (ICl(H)) by elucidating its functional properties and mechanisms of regulation in three different cell types: primary human bronchial epithelial (HBE) cells, neuroblastoma SK-N-MC cells and HEK-293 cells. We found that outward rectification, sensitivity to acidic pH (50% activation at pH5.15), permeability sequence (SCN⁻>I⁻>Br⁻>Cl⁻>gluconate), voltage dependence and sensitivity to blockers of ICl(H) were identical in all cells. These findings suggest a common molecular basis for ICl(H). We analysed the possible relationship of ICl(H) with members of ClC and TMEM16 protein families. By gene silencing, validated using RT-PCR, we found that ICl(H) is unrelated to ClC-3, ClC-7, TMEM16A, TMEM16D, TMEM16F, TMEM16H and TMEM16K. Analysis of possible mechanisms of regulation indicate that Ca²⁺, ATP and phosphorylation by PKA or PKC do not seem to be implicated in channel activation. Instead, the inhibition of ICl(H) by genistein and wortmannin suggest regulation by other kinases, possibly a tyrosine kinase and a phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase. Moreover, by using dynasore, the dynamin inhibitor, we found indications that exo/endocytosis is a mechanism responsible for ICl(H) regulation. Our results provide the first evidence about acid-activated Cl⁻ channel regulation and, thus, could open the way for a better understanding of the channel function and for the molecular identification of the underlying protein.
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Capurro
authors.forename: Ambra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gianotti
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Caci
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ravazzolo
authors.forename: Luis J V
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Galietta
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Zegarra-Moran
mesh_terms: D000143:Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D000730:Androstadienes / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D016466:CHO Cells; D002460:Cell Line; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018118:Chloride Channels / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006224:Cricetinae; D003412:Cricetulus; D019833:Genistein / Q000494:pharmacology; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D006801:Humans; D006835:Hydrazones / Q000494:pharmacology; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D015640:Ion Channel Gating / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D000081082:Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D034622:RNA Interference; D000077191:Wortmannin
chemical_list: D000143:Acids; D000730:Androstadienes; D018118:Chloride Channels; D019833:Genistein; D006835:Hydrazones; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D000081082:Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D000077191:Wortmannin; C511794:N'-(3,4-dihydroxybenzylidene)-3-hydroxy-2-naphthahydrazide