Role of Na/K‐ATPase Non‐Enzymatic Function in Proximal Tubule Sodium Handling

Abstract

Systemic levels of endogenous cardiotonic steroids (CTS) increase markedly during salt loading, volume expansion and renal insufficiency, suggesting a physiological role in the regulation of renal Na+ handling. CTS are classically known as specific inhibitors of Na/K‐ATPase (NKA) α1 ion‐pumping function, which is critical for Na+ and water reabsorption in the renal proximal tubule (PT). At much lower concentrations, closer to the range of those reported for endogenous CTS in the blood, they also initiate NKA/Src‐mediated signaling in renal cell cultures. To investigate the respective roles of PT NKA α1/Src signaling and ion‐pumping function in physiological salt handling, we developed a PT‐specific NKA α1 knockout (RPTα1−/−) mouse with PT‐specific rescue by wild‐type NKA α1 (RPT α1WT) or a mutant NKA α1 with intact ion‐pumping function and blunted NKA/Src signaling (RPTα1Y260A).The PT‐specific NKA α1 knockout mouse was generated by crossing SGLT2 (sodium glucose co‐transporter 2)‐Cre mice with Floxed ATP1a1 mice. A SGLT2‐Cre/Rosa 26 system was then used to re‐introduce α1WT or α1Y260A expression at the Rosa26 locus. Mice were born with the expected Mendelian ratio and appeared phenotypically normal, with no detectable change in water and food intake, or body weight. Renal phenotyping was further assessed using metabolic cages in 2–4 month‐old male and female mice.PT‐specific KO and rescue was confirmed by immunohistochemistry in PT cells isolated from RPTα1−/−, RPTα1WT, and RPTα1Y260A mice. Kidney size, morphology and structure appeared overall normal following periodic acid shift (PAS) and trichrome staining. Functionally, in contrast with the predicted outcome based solely on the classical enzymatic function of NKA, a significant decrease in daily urine output (0.55±0.2 vs 1.76±0.3 mL/24h in RPTα1+/+, n=8–10, p<0.01) and absolute Na+ excretion (0.13±0.07 vs 0.35±0.0.5 mmol/24h in RPTα1+/+, n=6, p<0.01) were observed in the absence of PT NKA. The urinary clearance of lithium was significantly decreased in RPTα1−/− (1.42±0.3 vs 4.13±0.5 mL/min in RPTα1+/+, n=3, p<0.05), suggesting that the observed increase in Na+ reabsorption originated in the PT. The urinary output was rescued in the RPTα1WT (2.12±0.3 vs 2.16±0.4 mL/24h in RPTα1WTcontrol, n=7–10, p>0.05) but not in the RPTα1Y260A (0.42±0.1 vs 1.56±0.2 mL/24h in RPTα1Y260Acontrol, n=6–8, p<0.01), which supported the role of NKA α1/Src signaling in the PT Na+ reabsorption.These results support a previously unascertained physiological role of NKA/Src signaling in PT Na+ and water reabsorption, and warrant further investigation to assess the mechanism and possible impact on blood pressure regulation.Support or Funding InformationMarshall Institute of Interdisciplinary Research FundsThis abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.