R. B. Bajnath

Biphasic increase of apical Cl− conductance by muscarinic stimulation of ht-29cl.19a human colon carcinoma cell line: Evidence for activation of different cl− conductances by carbachol and forskolin

SummaryThe modulation of ion transport pathways in filtergrown monolayers of the Cl−-secreting subclone (19A) of the human colon carcinoma cell line HT-29 by muscarinic stimulation was studied by combined Ussing chamber and microimpalement experiments.Basolateral addition of 10−4m carbachol induced a complex poly-phasic change of the cell potential consisting of (i) a fast and short (30-sec) depolarization of 15±1 mV from a resting value of −52±1 mV and an increase of the fractional resistance of the apical membrane (first phase), (ii) a repolarization of 22±1 mV leading to a hyperpolarization of the cell (second phase), (iii) a depolarization of 11±1 mV and a decrease of the fractional resistance of the apical membrane (the third phase), (iv) and sometimes, a hyperpolarization of 6±1 mV and an increase of the fractional resistance of the apical membrane (fourth phase). The transepithelial potential increased with a peak value of 2.4±0.3 mV (basolateral side positive). The transepithelial PD started to increase (serosa positive), coinciding with the start of the second phase of the intracellular potential change, and continued to increase during the third phase. Ion replacements and electrical circuit analyses indicate that the first phase is caused by increase of the Cl− conductance in the apical and basolateral membrane, the second phase by increased K+ conductance of the basolateral membrane, and the third phase and the fourth phase by increase and decrease, respectively, of an apical Cl− conductance. The first and second phase of the carbachol effect could be elicited also by ionomycin. They were strongly reduced by EGTA. Phorbol dibutyrate (PDB) induced a sustained depolarization of the cell and a decrease of the apical fractional resistance. The results suggest that two different types of Cl− channels are involved in the carbachol response: one Ca2+ dependent and a second which may be PKC sensitive.In the presence of a supramaximal concentration of forskolin, carbachol evoked a further increase of the apical Cl− conductance.It is concluded that the short-lasting carbachol/Ca2+-dependent Cl− conductance is different from the forskolin-activated conductance. The increase of the Cl− conductance in the presence of forskolin by carbachol may be due to activation of different Cl− channels or to modulation of the PKA-activated Cl− channels by activated PKC.

Electrophysiological studies of forskolin-induced changes in ion transport in the human colon carcinoma cell line HT-29 cl.19A: Lack of evidence for a cAMP-activated basolateral K+ conductance

SummaryForskolin (i.e, cAMP)-modulation of ion transport pathways in filter-grown monolayers of the Cl−-secreting subclone (19A) of the human colon carcinoma cell line HT29 was studied by combined Ussing chamber and microimpalement experiments.Changes in electrophysiological parameters provoked by serosal addition of 10−5m forskolin included: (i) a sustained increase in the transepithelial potential difference (3.9±0.4 mV). (ii) a transient decrease in transepithelial resistance with 26±3 Ω · cm2 from a mean value of 138±13 Ω · cm2 before forskolin addition, (iii) a depolarization of the cell membrane potential by 24±1 mV from a resting value of −50±1 mV and (iv) a decrease in the fractional resistance of the apical membrane from 0.80±0.02 to 0.22±0.01. Both, the changes in cell potential and the fractional resistance, persisted for at least 10 min and were dependent on the presence of Cl− in the medium. Subsequent addition of bumetanide (10−4m), an inhibitor of Na/K/2Cl cotransport, reduced the transepithelial potential, induced a repolarization of the cell potential and provoked a small increase of the transepithelial resistance and fractional apical resistance. Serosal Ba2+ (1mm), a known inhibitor of basolateral K+ conductance, strongly reduced the electrical effects of forskolin. No evidence was found for a forskolin (cAMP)-induced modulation of basolateral K+ conductance.The results suggest that forskolin-induced Cl− secretion in the HT-29 cl.19A colonic cell line results mainly from a cAMP-provoked increase in the Cl− conductance of the apical membrane but does not affect K+ or Cl− conductance pathways at the basolateral pole of the cell. The sustained potential changes indicate that the capacity of the basolateral transport mechanism for Cl− and the basal Ba2+-sensitive K+ conductance are sufficiently large to maintain the Cl− efflux across the apical membrane. Furthermore, evidence is presented for an anomalous inhibitory action of the putative Cl− channel blockers NPPB and DPC on basolateral conductance rather than apical Cl− conductance.

Synergistic activation of non-rectifying small-conductance chloride channels by forskolin and phorbol esters in cell-attached patches of the human colon carcinoma cell line HT-29cl.19A

Cell-attached patch-clamp studies with the human colon carcinoma HT-29cl.19A cells revealed a small chloride channel with a unitary conductance of 6.5 pS at 70 mV and 4.6 pS at −70 mV clamp potential after cAMP was increased by activation of adenylyl cyclase by forskolin. Usually channels inactivated upon patch excision, but in a few excised patches the channels stayed active and displayed a linear I/V relation in symmetrical (150 mmol/l) chloride solutions with a conductance of 7.5 pS. A 16-fold increase in channel incidence was observed when forskolin and phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDB) were present together. The open probability was voltage-independent and was not different in the presence of forskolin plus PDB or with forskolin alone. The conductance sequence of the channel as deduced from outward currents carried by five different anions including chloride was: Cl−>Br−>NO3−>gluconate > I−. The permeability sequence deduced from the reversal potentials was NO3−≥Br−>Cl−>I−>gluconate. With iodide in the pipette the conductance decreased strongly. Moreover, the inward current was reduced by 61%, indicating a strong inhibition of the chloride efflux by iodide. Similarly, the forskolin-induced increase of the short-circuit current (Isc) in confluent filter-grown monolayers was strongly reduced by iodide in the apical perfusate. Iodide also increased the fractional resistance of the apical membrane and repolarized the membrane potential, indicating an inhibitory action on the forskolin-induced increase of the apical chloride conductance. The PDB-induced Isc was also reduced by iodide, suggesting that the same chloride conductance is involved in the forskolin and in the PDB response. The results suggest that forskolin via cAMP-dependent protein kinase and PDB via protein kinase C regulate the same non-rectifying small-conductance chloride channels in the HT-29cl.19A cells.

Chloride secretion induced by phorbol dibutyrate and forskolin in the human colonic carcinoma cell line HT-29Cl.19A is regulated by different mechanisms

The human colonic carcinoma cell line HT29cl.19A responds to the protein kinase C activator PDB (4-β-phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate), as it does to forskolin (an activator of adenylyl cyclase), with a secretory response when the cells are grown on filters and studied at 36 °C. Previously, we showed that when cells were grown on Petri dishes and studied at about 25 °C with the cell-attached patch-clamp technique, forskolin, but not PDB, could activate 8-pS chloride channels (cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator, CFTR, channels). The present work was carried out to study this discrepancy. Experiments in Ussing chambers, at different temperatures, showed that the responses to PDB and forskolin differ in their temperature sensitivity. This was also found following conventional microelectrode and Ussing chamber studies with nystatin-permeabilized epithelial layers carried out at 25 °C and at 36 °C. Pre-incubation with the microtubular disruptive agents nocodazole or colcemid did not affect the response to PDB or forskolin, suggesting that chloride secretion induced by these agonists in these cells is independent of the microtubular structure. Pre-incubation with brefeldin A strongly inhibited the response to PDB, but the response to forskolin was hardly affected. The differing effect of temperature and brefeldin A on the responses to forskolin and PDB may be due to the activation of two distinct mechanisms by protein kinases A and C.

Activation of ion transport by combined effects of ionomycin, forskolin and phorbol ester on cultured HT-29cl.19A human colonocytes

The differentiated clone 19A of the HT-29 human colon carcinoma cell line was used as a model to study the intracellular electrophysiological effects of interaction of the cAMP, the protein kinase C (PKC) and the Ca2+ pathways, (a) A synergistic effect between ionomycin and forskolin was observed. From intracellular responses it was concluded that the synergistic effect is caused by activation of an apical Cl− conductance by protein kinase A and a basolateral K+ conductance by Ca2+. (b) A transient synergistic effect of ionomycin and the phorbol ester phorbol dibutyrate (PDB) was found. The decrease of the response appeared to be due to PKC-dependent inactivation of the basolateral K+ conductance. The synergism is caused by PKC-dependent increase of the apical Cl− conductance and Ca2+-dependent increase of the basolateral K+ conductance. (c) The effects of carbachol and PDB were not fully additive presumably because of their convergence on PKC activation, (d) Forskolin and PDB, when added in this order, had a less than additive effect. Results of cell-attached patch-clamp studies, presented in the accompanying paper, showed a synergistic effect of forskolin and PDB on non-rectifying small-conductance Cl− channels. Assuming that these channels are involved in the transepithelial responses it is suggested that forskolin and PDB induce a modulatory, synergistic increase of the apical Cl− conductance when both pathways are activated simultaneously. (e) The HT-29cl.19A cells differ from T84 cells in that the latter did not respond with an increase of the short-circuit current to addition of phorbol ester. This may be due to a very low expression of PKCα.

Calcium ionophore plus excision induce a large conductance chloride channel in membrane patches of human colon carcinoma cells HT-29cl.19A

In excised inside-out membrane patches of the human colon carcinoma HT-29cl.19A cells a large conductance (373±10 pS) chloride channel was found. Channel activity could only be observed after excision of patches from cells incubated with calcium ionophore. The channel was never observed in cell-attached patches. The channel was strongly voltage dependent, being open only between +30 and −30 mV clamp potentials. The selectivity sequence among anions, deduced from reversal potentials, was I>Br>Cl>F>gluconate. The PNa/PCl was 0.09. Although a similar type of channel, has been described earlier, this is the first report stating its appearance in patches of intestinal epithelial cells requiring the combined action of Ca2+ ionophore and excision, suggesting its control by an intracellular compound.

Characterization of swelling-induced ion transport in HT-29Cl.19A cells. Role of inorganic and organic osmolytes during regulatory volume decrease

Abstract Combined intracellular and transepithelial potential and resistance measurements were performed to localize the ion conductances activated by hypo-osmotic shock of cultured human colonic carcinoma cells (HT-29Cl.19A). Furthermore, the effect of cell swelling induced by a hypo-osmotic solution on the intracellular Ca2+ activity [Ca2+]i and release of amino acids into the extracellular solution was examined. Application of a 40% hypo-osmotic solution on both sides of confluent monolayers induced a hyperpolarization of the intracellular potential caused by increased K+ conductance of the basolateral membrane, followed by a sustained depolarization due to increased Cl–conductance in the apical and basolateral membranes. Usually no transepithelial current occurred, presumably because of random distribution of Cl–channels. However, in some monolayers cell swelling induced a transepithelial Cl–current because of a more pronounced expression of volume-sensitive Cl–channels in the apical membrane. Exposure to hypo-osmotic solution increased [Ca2+]i transiently. The increase of [Ca2+]i was also observed to occur in the presence of the muscarinic receptor agonist carbachol or the inhibitor of the microsomal Ca2+-ATPase thapsigargin (TG), which prevented carbachol-induced Ca2+ release, suggesting that cell swelling recruits Ca2+ from a different source compared to carbachol or TG. Following incubations with hypo-osmotic solutions, about 60% of the intracellular free amino acids including aspartate, glutamate, glycine and taurine was released. It is concluded that the regulatory volume decrease (RVD) in HT-29Cl.19A colonocytes is achieved by activation of K+ and Cl–conductances, resulting in net loss of salt, as well by extrusion of amino acids.

Regulation of chloride channels in the human colon carcinoma cell line HT29.cl19A.

Chloride (Cl−) channels are important in the regulation of salt and water transport in secretory epithelial cells. A disturbed Cl− secretion is the most consistent characteristic in the genetic disease cystic fibrosis. An outwardly rectifying Cl− channel (OR) with a conductance of 25–50 pS had been proposed to play a major role in Cl− secretion. Activation by Ca2+ and the protein kinases (PK) A and C (at less than 10 nM Ca2+) as well as inhibition by PKC (at 1 μM Ca2+) has been reported. In the present study, we have identified and characterized the OR in HT29.cl19A human colon carcinoma cells. The OR displayed a conductance of 31±4 pS (n=25). Its open probability in 10 nM Ca2+ was voltage-dependent in 50% of the patches, starting from 0.2 at -70 mV to 0.8 at 70 mV. The spontaneous activation in excised inside-out patches at −60 mV was Ca2+-dependent and decreased from 29% in 1 mM Ca2+ to 2% in 10 nM Ca2+. Active OR were found in (a) 25% of patches exposed to 10 nM Ca2+, ATP and cAMP only, (b) 42% of the patches exposed to 10 nM Ca2+, ATP and the catalytic subunit of PKA (CAK) and (c) 67% of the patches exposed to 1 mM Ca2+, ATP plus CAK. Inhibition of voltage-activated channels by addition of PKC in 1 μM or 1 mM Ca2+ was not observed. Attempts to activate the OR in cell-attached patches by increasing cAMP levels under different experimental conditions were unsuccessful. Our data suggest that the OR may not be as important in Cl− secretion as has been thought.

Neuropeptide Y inhibits the protein kinase C-stimulated Cl(-) secretion in the human colonic cell line HT29cl.19A cell line via multiple sites

Neuropeptide Y is known to exert inhibitory effects on ion secretion in the intestine by reducing the activity of adenylyl cyclase. In the human intestinal epithelial cell line HT29cl.19A, it has been previously shown that neuropeptide Y inhibits the electrophysiological phenomena related to Cl(-) secretion, when induced by elevation of cAMP via forskolin. Moreover, the secretion induced via elevation of intracellular calcium levels via muscarinic activation can be inhibited by neuropeptide Y. Part of these inhibitions appeared to be due to lowered calcium activity in the epithelial cells, thereby reducing the basolateral K(+) conductance. The phorbol ester 4-phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate (PDB) can induce secretion in this cell line via activation of protein kinase C as well; however, the effect of neuropeptide Y on this pathway has not yet been studied. In the present experiments, it is shown that neuropeptide Y inhibits the PDB-induced secretion at two sides: one located in the apical membrane and another in the basolateral membrane. It is shown that the latter effect can, at least partially, be explained via a direct effect of neuropeptide Y on the K(+) conductance. This was concluded from the observation that neuropeptide Y could also reduce basolateral K(+) conductance when intracellular calcium was dramatically increased by ionomycin. The observed inhibitory effects suggest that neuropeptide Y is a very powerful antisecretory peptide in human intestinal epithelial cells.