Jürg Graf

Vitamin D increases tight-junction conductance and paracellular Ca2+ transport in Caco-2 cell cultures

We investigated the effects of 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3[1,25(OH)2D3] on paracellular intestinal Ca2+absorption by determination of transepithelial electric resistance (TEER), as a measure of tight-junction ion permeability and bidirectional transepithelial45Ca2+fluxes in confluent Caco-2 cell cultures. The rise of TEER to steady-state levels of ∼2,000 Ω ⋅ cm2 was significantly attenuated by 1,25(OH)2D3(by up to 50%) in a dose-dependent fashion between 10-11 and 10-8 M. Synthetic analogs of 1,25(OH)2D3, namely, 1α,25-dihydroxy-16-ene,23-yne-vitamin D3 and 1α,25-dihydroxy-26,27-hexafluoro-16-ene,23-yne-vitamin D3, exhibited similar biopotency, whereas their genomically inactive 1-deoxy congeners were only marginally effective. Enhancement of transepithelial conductance of Caco-2 cell monolayers by vitamin D was accompanied by a significant increase in bidirectional transepithelial45Ca2+fluxes. Although 1,25(OH)2D3also induced cellular45Ca2+uptake from the apical aspect of Caco-2 cell layers and upregulated the expression of calbindin-9kDa mRNA, no significant contribution of the Ca2+-adenosinetriphosphatase-mediated transcellular pathway to transepithelial Ca2+ transport could be detected. Therefore stimulation of Ca2+fluxes across confluent Caco-2 cells very likely results from a genomic effect of vitamin D sterols on assembly and permeability of tight-junctional complexes.We investigated the effects of 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3] on paracellular intestinal Ca2+ absorption by determination of transepithelial electric resistance (TEER), as a measure of tight-junction ion permeability and bidirectional transepithelial 45Ca2+ fluxes in confluent Caco-2 cell cultures. The rise of TEER to steady-state levels of approximately 2,000 omega.cm2 was significantly attenuated by 1,25(OH)2D3 (by up to 50%) in a dose-dependent fashion between 10(-11) and 10(-8) M. Synthetic analogs of 1,25(OH)2D3, namely, 1 alpha,25-dihydroxy-16-ene,23-yne-vitamin D3 and 1 alpha,25-dihydroxy-26,27-hexafluoro-16-ene,23-yne-vitamin D3, exhibited similar biopotency, whereas their genomically inactive 1-deoxy congeners were only marginally effective. Enhancement of transepithelial conductance of Caco-2 cell monolayers by vitamin D was accompanied by a significant increase in bidirectional transepithelial 45Ca2+ fluxes. Although 1,25(OH)2D3 also induced cellular 45Ca2+ uptake from the apical aspect of Caco-2 cell layers and upregulated the expression of calbindin-9kDa mRNA, no significant contribution of the Ca(2+)-adenosinetriphosphatase-mediated transcellular pathway to transepithelial Ca2+ transport could be detected. Therefore stimulation of Ca2+ fluxes across confluent Caco-2 cells very likely results from a genomic effect of vitamin D sterols on assembly and permeability of tight-junctional complexes.

METABOLISM OF THE ANTICANCER DRUG FLAVOPIRIDOL, A NEW INHIBITOR OF CYCLIN DEPENDENT KINASES, IN RAT LIVER

Flavopiridol (FLAP) is a promising novel chemotherapeutic agent currently undergoing clinical phase I trials. To examine hepatic metabolism and biliary disposition of FLAP we applied the isolated perfused rat liver system. Besides FLAP two metabolites were detected by high performance liquid chromatography in bile and perfusate. Twenty-five min after FLAP (30 microM) addition to the perfusion medium, biliary secretion of metabolite 1 and 2 reached a maximum of 1.04 +/- 0.52 and 11.34 +/- 4.72 nmol/g.liver.min, respectively. Biliary excretion of parent FLAP, however, continuously increased for 60 min up to 406 +/- 134 pmol/g liver.min. In the perfusate, metabolite 1 was below detection limit and release of metabolite 2 was low (2.8 +/- 0.7 pmol/g liver.min after 60 min). Enzymatic hydrolysis with beta-glucuronidase, mass spectroscopy and electron absorption spectroscopy revealed that both metabolites are monoglucuronides with the glucuronide in position 5 and 7 of the flavonoid core, respectively. The amount of FLAP, metabolite 1 and metabolite 2 excreted into bile during the 60 min of perfusion was 1.94 +/- 0.91, 5.15 +/- 1.95 and 57.29 +/- 23.60% of FLAP cleared from the perfusate during 60 min, respectively. In contrast to the structurally similar flavonoids genistein and daidzein, no inhibition of UDP-glucuronyltransferase with methylumbelliferone as a substrate was observed indicating that different UDP-glucuronyltransferase isoforms are involved in FLAP metabolism. In conclusion, we find that glucuronidation is the major mechanism of hepatic FLAP biotransformation. Metabolites are mainly excreted into bile but also released into systemic circulation. The pharmacological and toxicological effects of these metabolites remain to be elucidated.

Cell Volume Regulation in Liver

The maintenance of liver cell volume in isotonic extracellular fluid requires the continuous supply of energy: sodium is extruded in exchange for potassium by the sodium/potassium ATPase, conductive potassium efflux creates a cell-negative membrane potential, which expelles chloride through conductive pathways. Thus, the various organic substances accumulated within the cell are osmotically counterbalanced in large part by the large difference of chloride concentration across the cell membrane. Impairment of energy supply leads to dissipation of ion gradients, depolarization and cell swelling. However, even in the presence of ouabain the liver cell can extrude ions by furosemide-sensitive transport in intracellular vesicles and subsequent exocytosis. In isotonic extracellular fluid cell swelling may follow an increase in extracellular potassium concentration, which impairs potassium efflux and depolarizes the cell membrane leading to chloride accumulation. Replacement of extracellular chloride with impermeable anions leads to cell shrinkage. During excessive sodium-coupled entry of amino acids and subsequent stimulation of sodium/potassium-ATPase by increase in intracellular sodium activity, an increase in cell volume is blunted by activation of potassium channels, which maintain cell membrane potential and allow for loss of cellular potassium. Cell swelling induced by exposure of liver cells to hypotonic extracellular fluid is followed by regulatory volume decrease (RVD), cell shrinkage induced by reexposure to isotonic perfusate is followed by regulatory volume increase (RVI). Available evidence suggests that RVD is accomplished by activation of potassium channels, hyperpolarization and subsequent extrusion of chloride along with potassium, and that RVI depends on the activation of sodium hydrogen ion exchange with subsequent activation of sodium/potassium-ATPase leading to the respective accumulation of potassium and bicarbonate. In addition, exposure of liver to anisotonic perfusates alters glycogen degradation, glycolysis and probably urea formation, which are enhanced by exposure to hypertonic perfusates and depressed by hypotonic perfusates.

Ca2+-activated Cl− channels can substitute for CFTR in stimulation of pancreatic duct bicarbonate secretion

This study addresses the mechanisms by which a defect in CFTR impairs pancreatic duct bicarbonate secretion in cystic fibrosis. We used control (PANC‐1) and CFTR‐deficient (CFPAC‐1; ΔF508 mutation) cell lines and measured HCO3− extrusion by the rate of recovery of intracellular pH after an alkaline load and recorded whole cell membrane currents using patch clamp techniques. 1) In PANC‐1 cells, cAMP causes parallel activation of Cl− channels and of HCO3− extrusion by DIDS‐sensitive and Na+‐independent Cl‐/HCO3− exchange, both effects being inhibited by Cl− channel blockers NPPB and glibenclamide. 2) In CFPAC‐1 cells, cAMP fails to stimulate Cl−/ HCO3− exchange and Cl− channels, except after promoting surface expression of ΔF508‐CFTR by glycerol treatment. Instead, raising intracellular Ca2+ concentration to 1 μmol/l or stimulating purinergic receptors with ATP (10 and 100 μmol/l) leads to parallel activation of Cl− channels and HCO3− extrusion. 3) K+ channel function is required for coupling cAMP‐ and Ca2+‐dependent Cl− channel activation to effective stimulation of Cl−/HCO3− exchange in control and CF cells, respectively. It is concluded that stimulation of pancreatic duct bicarbonate secretion via Cl−/ HCO3− exchange is directly correlated to activation of apical membrane Cl− channels. Reduced bicarbonate secretion in cystic fibrosis results from defective cAMP‐activated Cl− channels. This defect is partially compensated for by an increased sensitivity of CF cells to purinergic stimulation and by alternative activation of Ca2+‐dependent Cl− channels, mechanisms of interest with respect to possible treatment of cystic fibrosis and of related chronic pancreatic diseases.—Zsembery, A., Strazzabosco, M., Graf, J. Ca2+‐activated Cl− channels can substitute for CFTR in stimulation of pancreatic duct bicarbonate secretion. FASEB J. 14, 2345–2356 (2000)

Investigations on the sodium dependence of bile acid fluxes in the isolated perfused rat liver

At [Na+]o = 118 mM the concentrative transfer of cholic and taurocholic acid from the perfusate into the isolated rat liver displays saturation kinetics (taurocholate: V = 299 nmol-min-1-g-1, Km = 61 muM; Cholate: V=327 nmol-min-1-g-1, Km = 436 muM). Perfusion with an isotonic sodium-free medium did not change the feature of a carrier-mediated transport but did markedly reduce V without affecting Km (taurocholate: V = 65 nmol-min-1-g-1, Km = 78 muM; cholate: V = 104 nmol-min-1-g-1, Km = 354 muM). It was experimentally assured that the observed reduction of bile salt uptake was not a consequence of regurgitation of bile salts or due to an excessive intracellular accumulation during cholestasis in the sodium-free state. The rate of taurocholate efflux is very low when compared with the rapid rate of the uptake. A stimulatory action of extracellular sodium on this pathway was also observed. Inhibition of the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase by 1 mM ouabain resulted in a decrease of bile salt uptake. Activation of the enzyme by potassium readmission to a K+-deprived liver enhanced bile salt uptake. The immediate response to alteration of the enzyme activity suggests a close association of a fraction of bile acid active transport with the sodium pump.

Acute troglitazone action in isolated perfused rat liver

The thiazolidinedione compound, troglitazone, enhances insulin action and reduces plasma glucose concentrations when administered chronically to type 2 diabetic patients. To analyse to what extent thiazolidinediones interfere with liver function, we examined the acute actions of troglitazone (0.61 and 3.15 μM) on hepatic glucose and lactate fluxes, bile secretion, and portal pressure under basal, insulin‐ and/or glucagon‐stimulated conditions in isolated perfused rat livers. During BSA‐free perfusion, high dose troglitazone increased basal (P<0.01), but inhibited glucagon‐stimulated incremental glucose production by ∼75% (10.0±2.5 vs control: 40.0±7.2 μmol g liver−1, P<0.01). In parallel, incremental lactate release rose ∼6 fold (13.1±5.9 vs control: 2.2±0.8 mmol g liver−1, P<0.05), while bile secretion declined by ∼67% [0.23±0.02 vs control: 0.70±0.05 mg g liver−1 min−1), P<0.001]. Low dose troglitazone infusion did not enhance the inhibitory effect of insulin on glucagon‐stimulated glucose production, but rapidly increased lactate release (P<0.0005) and portal venous pressure (+0.17±0.07 vs +0.54±0.07 cm buffer height, P<0.0001). These results indicate that troglitazone exerts both insulin‐like and non‐insulin‐like hepatic effects, which are blunted by addition of albumin, possibly due to troglitazone binding.

High precision measurement of electrical resistance across endothelial cell monolayers.

Effects of vasoactive agonists on endothelial permeability was assessed by measurement of transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER) of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) grown on porous polycarbonate supports. Because of the low values of TEER obtained in this preparation (< 5 Ωcm2) a design of an Ussing type recording chamber was chosen that provided for a homogeneous electric Held across the monolayer and for proper correction of series resistances. Precision current pulses and appropriate rates of sampling and averaging of the voltage signal allowed for measurement of < 0.1 Ω resistance changes of the endothelium on top of a 21 Ω series resistance of the support and bathing fluid layers. Histamine (10 μM) and thrombin (10 U/ml) induced an abrupt and substantial decrease of TEER, bradykinin (1 μM) was less effective, PAF (380 nM) and LTC4 (1 μM) had no effect TEER was also reduced by the calcium ionophore A-23187 (10 μM). The technique allows for measurements of TEER in low resistance monolayer cultures with high precision and time resolution. The results obtained extend previous observations in providing quantitative data on the increase of permeability of HUVECs in response to vasoactive agonists.

Bile canalicular cationic dye secretion as a model for P-glycoprotein mediated transport

This study explores properties of P-glycoprotein dependent membrane transport in rat liver with the use of acridine orange as the substrate. We studied the biliary secretion of the dye, its binding to canalicular membrane P-glycoprotein, and effects of the inhibitor cyclosporin A: acridine orange is excreted into bile together with less hydrophobic and glucuronidated metabolites. Cyclosporin A inhibited both the secretion of acridine orange and of its metabolites. In TR- animals, a rat strain that is deficient of the canalicular multi-specific organic anion transport system, non-metabolized acridine orange is the predominant species in bile and its secretion is also inhibited by cyclosporin A. Binding of acridine orange to liver P-glycoprotein was analyzed by photoaffinity labeling with azidopine, a substrate of P-glycoprotein dependent transport in multi-drug resistant tumor cells. Labeling of the immunoprecipitated P-glycoprotein was inhibited by acridine orange, verapamil, and by cyclosporin A. The results show that biliary secretion of acridine orange is highly analogous to P-glycoprotein mediated membrane drug transport in tumor cells that exhibit multi-drug resistance.

Relationship of hepatic cholate transport to regulation of intracellular pH and potassium

Modulation of hepatic cholate transport by transmembrane pH-gradients and during interferences with the homeostatic regulation of intracellular pH and K+ was studied in the isolated perfused rat liver. Within the concentration range studied uptake into the liver was saturable and appeared to be associated with release of OH- and uptake of K+. Perfusate acidification ineffectually stimulated uptake. Application of NH4Cl caused intracellular alkalinization, release of K+ and stimulation of cholate uptake, withdrawal of NH4Cl resulted in intracellular acidification, regain of K+ and inhibition of cholate uptake. Inhibition of Na+/H(+)-exchange with amiloride reduced basal release of acid equivalents into the perfusate, initiated K(+)-release, and inhibited both, control cholate uptake and its recovery following intracellular acidification. K(+)-free perfusion caused K(+)-release and inhibited cholate uptake. K(+)-readmission resulted in brisk K(+)-uptake and recovery of cholate transport. Both effects were inhibited by amiloride. Interference with cholate transport through modulation of pH homeostasis by diisothiocyanostilbenedisulfonate (DIDS) could not be demonstrated because DIDS affected bile acid transport directly. Biliary bile acid secretion was stimulated by intracellular alkalinization and by activation of K(+)-transport. Uncoupling of the mutual interference between pH-dependent cholate uptake and K(+)-transport by amiloride indicates tertiary active transport of cholate. In this, Na+/K(+)-ATPase provides the transmembrane Na(+)-gradient to sustain Na+/H(+)-exchange which maintains the transmembrane pH-gradient and thus supports cholate uptake. Effects of canalicular bile acid secretion are consistent with a saturable, electrogenic transport.

Electrical and molecular coupling between sodium and proton fluxes in basolateral membrane vesicles of rat liver

Mechanisms of Na+−H+ exchange in the hepatocyte were studied utilizing isolated basolateral membrane vesicles prepared by two different methods: Evidence was obtained for the existence of molecular coupling of Na+ and H+ fluxes (Na+/H+-antiport) which exhibits saturation kinetics (Km 7 mmol/l Na+) and is inhibited by amiloride (1.0 mmol/l). Although the two membrane preparations showed differences with respect to ionic permeabilities, our data suggest that a relatively high H+ conductance exists in the basolateral plasma membrane. Hence, electrical coupling of conductive H+ and Na+ fluxes in the opposite direction could contribute to net Na+−H+ exchange across the basolateral hepatocyte plasma membrane.