Yi Duan

Shear-induced reorganization of renal proximal tubule cell actin cytoskeleton and apical junctional complexes

In this study, we demonstrate that fluid shear stress (FSS)-induced actin cytoskeletal reorganization and junctional formation in renal epithelial cells are nearly completely opposite the corresponding changes in vascular endothelial cells (ECs) [Thi MM et al. (2004) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 101:16483–16488]. Mouse proximal tubule cells (PTCs) were subjected to 5 h of FSS (1 dyn/cm2) to investigate the dynamic responses of the cytoskeletal distribution of filamentous actin (F-actin), ZO-1, E-cadherin, vinculin, and paxillin to FSS. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed that FSS caused basal stress fiber disruption, more densely distributed peripheral actin bands (DPABs), and the formation of both tight junctions (TJs) and adherens junctions (AJs). A dramatic reinforcement of vinculin staining was found at the cell borders as well as the cell interior. These responses were abrogated by the actin-disrupting drug, cytochalasin D. To interpret these results, we propose a “junctional buttressing” model for PTCs in which FSS enables the DPABs, TJs, and AJs to become more tightly connected. In contrast, in the “bumper-car” model for ECs, all junctional connections were severely disrupted by FSS. This “junctional buttressing” model explains why a FSS of only 1/10 of that used in the EC study can cause a similarly dramatic, cytoskeletal response in these tall, cuboidal epithelial cells; and why junctional buttressing between adjacent cells may benefit renal epithelium in maximizing flow-activated, brush border-dependent, transcellular salt and water reabsorption.

Mechanotransduction in the renal tubule

The role of mechanical forces in the regulation of glomerulotubular balance in the proximal tubule (PT) and Ca(2+) signaling in the distal nephron was first recognized a decade ago, when it was proposed that the microvilli in the PT and the primary cilium in the cortical collecting duct (CCD) acted as sensors of local tubular flow. In this review, we present a summary of the theoretical models and experiments that have been conducted to elucidate the structure and function of these unique apical structures in the modulation of Na(+), HCO(3)(-), and water reabsorption in the PT and Ca(2+) signaling in the CCD. We also contrast the mechanotransduction mechanisms in renal epithelium with those in other cells in which fluid shear stresses have been recognized to play a key role in initiating intracellular signaling, most notably endothelial cells, hair cells in the inner ear, and bone cells. In each case, small hydrodynamic forces need to be greatly amplified before they can be sensed by the cells intracellular cytoskeleton to enable the cell to regulate its membrane transporters or stretch-activated ion channels in maintaining homeostasis in response to changing flow conditions.

Shear stress-induced changes of membrane transporter localization and expression in mouse proximal tubule cells

Our previous studies of microperfused single proximal tubule showed that flow-dependent Na+ and HCO3− reabsorption is due to a modulation of both NHE3 and vacuolar H+-ATPase (V-ATPase) activity. An intact actin cytoskeleton was indicated to provide a structural framework for proximal tubule cells to transmit mechanical forces and subsequently modulate cellular functions. In this study, we have used mouse proximal tubule (MPT) cells as a model to study the role of fluid shear stress (FSS) on apical NHE3 and V-ATPase and basolateral Na/K-ATPase trafficking and expression. Our hypothesis is that FSS stimulates both apical and basolateral transporter expression and trafficking, which subsequently mediates salt and volume reabsorption. We exposed MPT cells to 0.2 dynes/cm2 FSS for 3 h and performed confocal microscopy and Western blot analysis to compare the localization and expression of both apical and basolateral transporters in control cells and cells subjected to FSS. Our findings show that FSS leads to an increment in the amount of protein expression, and a translocation of apical NHE3 and V-ATPase from the intracellular compartment to the apical plasma membrane and Na/K-ATPase to the basolateral membrane. Disrupting actin by cytochalasin D blocks the FSS-induced changes in NHE3 and Na/K-ATPase, but not V-ATPase. In contrast, FSS-induced V-ATPase redistribution and expression are largely inhibited by colchicine, an agent that blocks microtubule polymerization. Our findings suggest that the actin cytoskeleton plays an important role in FSS-induced NHE3 and Na/K-ATPase trafficking, and an intact microtubule network is critical in FSS-induced modulation of V-ATPase in proximal tubule cells.