Contribution of Kir4.1/Kir5.1 Channels to the Control of ENaC‐Mediated Apical Sodium Transport in the Cortical Collecting Duct

Abstract

Recent studies using genetically modified animal models reveal that inwardly rectifying potassium channels Kir4.1 and Kir5.1, encoded by Kcnj10 and Kcnj16 genes, play an essential role in determining plasma potassium level and regulating blood pressure. Moreover, we have revealed recently that the deletion of Kcnj16 gene in Dahl salt‐sensitive (SS) rats has the profound effect on the blood pressure and renal damage. These data uncover a new potential target for the treatment of salt‐induced hypertension. Protein products of Kcnj10 and Kcnj16 are localized to the basolateral membrane of distal nephron segments forming functional homomeric (Kir4.1) and heteromeric (Kir4.1/Kir5.1) potassium channels that play an essential role in establishing a negative basolateral membrane potential and recycling K+ ions moved into the cytosol by the Na+/K+‐ATPase. In the present study we examined the effect of pharmacological inhibition of Kir4.1 and Kir4.1/Kir5.1 channels on sodium transport through the epithelial Na+ channel (ENaC) in the cortical collecting duct (CCD) cells. We have reported recently that Kir4.1 inhibitor nortriptyline (100 μM), but not fluoxetine (100 μM) inhibited whole‐cell potassium currents recorded from native principal CCD cells. First we examined whether fluoxetine and nortriptyline have different selectivity in targeting Kir4.1 and Kir4.1/Kir5.1 expressed in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. Single channel analysis revealed that application of 100 μM of amitriptyline produces a significant decrease in NPo of Kir4.1/Kir5.1 but does not affect Kir4.1 current activity, whereas fluoxetine selectively inhibits Kir4.1. Next we examined whether selective inhibition of Kir4.1 and Kir4.1/Kir5.1 affects an apical sodium transport via ENaC. We showed that amitriptyline, but not fluoxetine reduced (IC50=15.0 μM) the amiloride‐sensitive short‐circuit current (ISC) measured in polarized epithelial mCCDcl1 cells. In control experiments, application of amitriptyline did not directly affect ENaC activity overexpressed in CHO cells. Using different concentrations of recently developed Kir4.1 inhibitor, VU0134992, and patch‐clamp studies of single‐channel activity on mCCD cell line and native rodent and human CCD tubules, we confirmed that inhibition of Kir4.1/Kir5.1 channel but not Kir4.1 produces suppressive effect on ENaC activity. In summary, inhibition of Kir4.1/Kir5.1 channels in CCD cells indirectly reduces apical sodium conductance through ENaC, demonstrating the importance of basolateral potassium channels in the control of sodium reabsorption in distal nephron.Support or Funding InformationNational Institutes of Health grants R01 DK120821 (to J.D. and A.S.), R56 DK121750 (to O.P.), and R35 HL135749 (to A.S.)