Else K. Hoffmann

The cytoskeleton and cell volume regulation

Although the precise mechanisms have yet to be elucidated, early events in osmotic signal transduction may involve the clustering of cell surface receptors, initiating downstream signaling events such as assembly of focal adhesion complexes, and activation of, e.g. Rho family GTPases, phospholipases, lipid kinases, and tyrosine- and serine/threonine protein kinases. In the present paper, we briefly review recent evidence regarding the possible relation between such signaling events, the F-actin cytoskeleton, and volume-regulatory membrane transporters, focusing primarily on our own work in Ehrlich ascites tumer cells (EATC). In EATC, cell shrinkage is associated with an increase, and cell swelling with a decrease in F-actin content, respectively. The role of the F-actin cytoskeleton in cell volume regulation in various cell types has largely been investigated using cytochalasins to disrupt F-actin and highly varying effects have been reported. Findings in EATC show that the effect of cytochalasin treatment cannot always be assumed to be F-actin depolymerization, and that, moreover, there is no well-defined correlation between effects of cytochalasins on F-actin content and their effects on F-actin organization and cell morphology. At a concentration verified to depolymerize F-actin, cytochalasin B (CB), but not cytochalasin D (CD), inhibited the regulatory volume decrease (RVD) and regulatory volume increase (RVI) processes in EATC. This suggests that the effect of CB is related to an effect other than F-actin depolymerization, possibly its F-actin severing activity.

Anion transport systems in the plasma membrane of vertebrate cells.

In the case of the red blood cell, anion transport is a highly specific one-for-one exchange catalyzed by a major membrane protein known as band 3 or as capnophorin. This red cell anion-exchange system mediates the Cl-(-)HCO3- exchange responsible for most of the bicarbonate transport capacity of the blood. The rapidly expanding knowledge of the molecular biology and the transport kinetics of this specialized transport system is very briefly reviewed in Section III. Exchange diffusion mechanisms for anions are found in many cells other than erythrocytes. The exchange diffusion system in Ehrlich cells has several similarities to that in red cells. In several cell types (subsection IV-B), there is evidence that intracellular pH regulation depends on Cl-(-)HCO3- exchange processes. Anion exchange in other single cells is described in Section IV, and its role in pH regulation is described in Section VII. Anion exchange mechanism operating in parallel with, and only functionally linked to Na+-H+ or K+-H+ exchange mechanisms can also play a role in cell volume regulation as described in Section VII. In the Ehrlich ascites cell and other vertebrate cells, electroneutral anion transfer has been found to occur also by a cotransport system for cations and chloride operating in parallel with the exchange diffusion system. The cotransport system is capable of mediating secondary active chloride influx. In avian red cells, the cotransport system has been shown to be activated by adrenergic agonists and by cyclic AMP, suggesting that the cotransport is involved in regulatory processes (see subsection V-A.). In several cell types, cotransport systems are activated and play a role during volume regulation, as described in Section V and in Section VII. It is also likely that this secondary active cotransport of chloride plays a significant role for the apparently active extrusion of acid equivalents from certain cells. If a continuous influx of chloride against an electrochemical gradient is maintained by a cotransport system, the chloride disequilibrium can drive an influx of bicarbonate through the anion exchange mechanism, as described in Section VII. Finally, even the electrodiffusion of anions is shown to be regulated, and in Ehrlich cells and human lymphocytes an activation of the anion diffusion pathway plays a major role in cell volume regulation as described in Section VI and subsection VII-B.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Rho family GTP binding proteins are involved in the regulatory volume decrease process in NIH3T3 mouse fibroblasts

The role of Rho GTPases in the regulatory volume decrease (RVD) process following osmotic cell swelling is controversial and has so far only been investigated for the swelling‐activated Cl− efflux. We investigated the involvement of RhoA in the RVD process in NIH3T3 mouse fibroblasts, using wild‐type cells and three clones expressing constitutively active RhoA (RhoAV14). RhoAV14 expression resulted in an up to fourfold increase in the rate of RVD, measured by large‐angle light scattering. The increase in RVD rate correlated with RhoAV14 expression. RVD in wild‐type cells was unaffected by the Rho kinase inhibitor Y‐27632 and the phosphatidyl‐inositol 3 kinase (PI3K) inhibitor wortmannin. The maximal rates of swelling‐activated K+ (86Rb+ as tracer) and taurine ([3H]taurine as tracer) efflux after a 30 % reduction in extracellular osmolarity were increased about twofold in cells with maximal RhoAV14 expression compared to wild‐type cells, but were unaffected by Y‐27632. The volume set points for activation of release of both osmolytes appeared to be reduced by RhoAV14 expression. The maximal taurine efflux rate constant was potentiated by the tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor Na3VO4, and inhibited by the tyrosine kinase inhibitor genistein. The magnitude of the swelling‐activated Cl− current (ICl,swell) was higher in RhoAV14 than in wild‐type cells after a 7.5 % reduction in extracellular osmolarity, but, in contrast to 86Rb+ and [3H]taurine efflux, similar in both strains after a 30 % reduction in extracellular osmolarity. ICl,swell was inhibited by Y‐27632 and strongly potentiated by the myosin light chain kinase inhibitors ML‐7 and AV25. It is suggested that RhoA, although not the volume sensor per se, is an important upstream modulator shared by multiple swelling‐activated channels on which RhoA exerts its effects via divergent signalling pathways.

Cell volume regulation: physiology and pathophysiology.

Cell volume perturbation initiates a wide array of intracellular signalling cascades, leading to protective and adaptive events and, in most cases, activation of volume‐regulatory osmolyte transport, water loss, and hence restoration of cell volume and cellular function. Cell volume is challenged not only under physiological conditions, e.g. following accumulation of nutrients, during epithelial absorption/secretion processes, following hormonal/autocrine stimulation, and during induction of apoptosis, but also under pathophysiological conditions, e.g. hypoxia, ischaemia and hyponatremia/hypernatremia. On the other hand, it has recently become clear that an increase or reduction in cell volume can also serve as a specific signal in the regulation of physiological processes such as transepithelial transport, cell migration, proliferation and death. Although the mechanisms by which cell volume perturbations are sensed are still far from clear, significant progress has been made with respect to the nature of the sensors, transducers and effectors that convert a change in cell volume into a physiological response. In the present review, we summarize recent major developments in the field, and emphasize the relationship between cell volume regulation and organism physiology/pathophysiology.

Increases in [Ca2+]i and changes in intracellular pH during chemical anoxia in mouse neocortical neurons in primary culture.

The effect of chemical anoxia (azide) in the presence of glucose on the free intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) and intracellular pH (pHi) in mouse neocortical neurons was investigated using Fura‐2 and BCECF. Anoxia induced a reversible increase in [Ca2+]i which was significantly inhibited in nominally Ca2+‐free medium. A change in pHo (8.2 or 6.6), or addition of NMDA and non‐NMDA receptor antagonists (D‐AP5 and CNQX) in combination, significantly reduced the increase in [Ca2+]i, pointing to a protective effect of extracellular alkalosis or acidosis, and involvement of excitatory amino acids. An initial anoxia‐induced acidification was observed under all experimental conditions. In the control situation, this acidification was followed by a recovery/alkalinization of pHi in about 50% of the cells, a few cells showed no recovery, and some showed further acidification. EIPA, an inhibitor of Na+/H+ exchangers, prevented alkalinization, pointing towards anoxia‐induced activation of a Na+/H+ exchanger. In a nominally Ca2+‐free medium, the initial acidification was followed by a significant alkalinization. At pHo 8.2, the alkalinization was significantly increased, while at pHo 6.2, the initial acidification was followed by further acidification in about 50% of the cells, and by no further change in the remaining cells. J. Neurosci. Res. 56:358–370, 1999.

Shrinkage-induced activation of the Na+/H+ exchanger in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells: mechanisms involved in the activation and a role for the exchanger in cell volume regulation.

Abstract. Amiloride-sensitive, Na+-dependent, DIDS-insensitive cytoplasmic alkalinization is observed after hypertonic challenge in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells. This was assessed using the fluorescent pH-sensitive probe 2′,7′-bis-(2-carboxyethyl)-5,6-carboxyfluorescein (BCECF). A parallel increase in the amiloride-sensitive unidirectional Na+ influx is also observed. This indicates that hypertonic challenge activates a Na+/H+ exchanger. Activation occurs after several types of hypertonic challenge, is a graded function of the osmotic challenge, and is temperature-dependent. Observations on single cells reveal a considerable variation in the shrinkage-induced changes in cellular pHi, but the overall picture confirms the results from cell suspensions.Shrinkage-induced alkalinization and recovery of cellular pH after an acid load, is strongly reduced in ATP-depleted cells. Furthermore, it is inhibited by chelerythrine and H-7, inhibitors of protein kinase C (PKC). In contrast, Calyculin A, an inhibitor of protein phosphatases PP1 and PP2A, stimulates shrinkage-induced alkalinization. Osmotic activation of the exchanger is unaffected by removal of calcium from the experimental medium, and by buffering of intracellular free calcium with BAPTA.At 25 mm HCO−3, but not in nominally HCO−3-free medium, Na+/H+ exchange contributes significantly to regulatory volume increase in Ehrlich cells.Under isotonic conditions, the Na+/H+ exchanger is activated by ionomycin, an effect which may be secondary to ionomycin-induced cell shrinkage.

Role of LTD4 in the Regulatory Volume Decrease Response in Ehrlich Ascites Tumor Cells

Abstract. Stimulation with leukotriene D4 (LTD4) (3–100 nm) induces a transient increase in the free intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells. The LTD4-induced increase in [Ca2+]i is, however, significantly reduced in Ca2+-free medium (2 mm EGTA), and under these conditions stimulation with a low LTD4 concentration (3 nm) does not result in any detectable increase in [Ca2+]i. Addition of LTD4 (3–100 nm) moreover accelerates the KCl loss seen during Regulatory Volume Decrease (RVD) in cells suspended in a hypotonic medium. The LTD4-induced (100 nm) acceleration of the RVD response is also seen in Ca2+-free medium and also at 3 nm LTD4, indicating that LTD4 can open K+- and Cl−-channels without any detectable increase in [Ca2+]i. Buffering cellular Ca2+ with BAPTA almost completely blocks the LTD4-induced (100 nm) acceleration of the RVD response. Thus, the reduced [Ca2+]i level after BAPTA-loading or buffering of [Ca2+]i seems to inhibit the LTD4-induced stimulation of the RVD response even though the LTD4-induced cell shrinkage is not necessarily preceded by any detectable increase in [Ca2+]i. The LTD4 receptor antagonist L649,923 (1 μm) completely blocks the LTD4-induced increase in [Ca2+]i and inhibits the RVD response as well as the LTD4-induced acceleration of the RVD response. When the LTD4 receptor is desensitized by preincubation with 100 nm LTD4, a subsequent RVD response is strongly inhibited. In conclusion, the present study supports the notion that LTD4 plays a role in the activation of the RVD response. LTD4 seems to activate K+ and Cl− channels via stimulation of a LTD4 receptor with no need for a detectable increase in [Ca2+]i.

Modulation of the volume-sensitive K+ current in Ehrlich ascites tumour cells by pH.

Abstract. The effects of extracellular and intracellular pH (pHo and pHi respectively) on the regulatory volume decrease (RVD) response and on the volume-sensitive K+ and Cl– currents (IK,vol and ICl,vol respectively) were studied in Ehrlich ascites tumour cells. Alkaline pHo accelerated and acidic pHo decelerated the RVD response significantly. Intra- and extracellular alkalinisation increased the amplitude of IK,vol whereas acidification had an inhibitory effect. The magnitude of ICl,vol was not affected by changes in pHi or pHo. A significant reduction in the activation time for IK,vol after hypotonic cell swelling was observed upon moderate intracellular alkalinisation (to pHi 7.9). A further increase in pHi to 8.4 resulted in the spontaneous activation of an IK under isotonic conditions which resembled IK,vol with respect to its pharmacological profile and current/voltage (I/V) relation. Noise analysis demonstrated that the increased amplitude of IK,vol at alkaline pH resulted mainly from an increase in the number of channels (N) contributing to the current. The channel open probability, Po, was largely unaffected by pH. The pH dependence and the biophysical and pharmacological properties of IK,vol are similar to those of the cloned tandem pore-domain acid-sensitive K+ (TASK) channels, and in the current study the presence of TASK-1 was confirmed in Ehrlich cells.

Volume regulation in human fibroblasts: role of Ca2+ and 5-lipoxygenase products in the activation of the Cl- efflux.

Trypsinized human skin fibroblasts in suspension perform regulatory volume decrease (RVD) after cell swelling in hypotonic medium. During RVD, 36Cl− efflux is dramatically increased and the cell membrane is depolarized, indicating the activation of Cl− channels. This activation of Cl− channels depends on extracellular as well as on intracellular Ca2+. The swelling-induced Cl− efflux and the RVD response are inhibited by the 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor ETH 615-139. Finally, following hypotonic treatment, cellular pH decreases. The pH decrease does not involve the Cl−/HCO3−exchange because it is independent of the external Cl− concentration.

Na+/H+ exchange in ehrlich ascites tumor cells: Activation by cytoplasmic acidification and by treatment with cupric sulphate

SummaryExposure of Ehrlich cells to isotonic Na+-propionate medium induces a rapid cell swelling. This treatment is likely to impose an acid load on the cells. Cell swelling is absent in K+-propionate medium but may be induced by the ionophore nigericin, which mediates K+/H+ exchange. Cell swelling in Na+-propionate medium is blocked by amiloride, but an alternative pathway is introduced by addition of the ionophore monensin, which mediates Na+/H+ exchange. Consequently, swelling of Ehrlich cells in Na+-propionate medium is due to the operation of an amiloride-sensitive, Na+-specific mechanism. It is concluded that this mechanism is a Na+/H+ exchange system, activated by cytoplasmic acidification. We have previously demonstrated that the heavy metal salt CuSO4 in micromolar concentrations inhibits regulatory volume decrease (RVD) of Ehrlich cells following hypotonic swelling. The present work shows that CuSO4 inhibits RVD as a result of a net uptake of sodium, of which the major part is sensitive to amiloride. Measurements of intracellular pH show that CuSO4 causes significant cytoplasmic alkalinization, which is abolished by amiloride. Concomitantly, CuSO4 causes an amiloride-sensitive net proton efflux from the cells. The combined results confirm that a Na+/H+ exchange system exists in Ehrlich cells and demonstrate that the heavy metal salt CuSO4 activates this Na+/H+ exchange system.