The Effect of NaCl Concentrations on the NCC and ENaC Interaction

Abstract

The kidneys play a key role in maintenance of blood pressure. Within the nephron, the smallest functional unit of the kidney, the sodium chloride cotransporter (NCC) and the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) are co‐expressed in the second part of the Distal Convoluted Tubule (DCT2). These sodium transport proteins are critically important for regulating blood pressure. Recent studies have established that these two proteins closely associate and are likely bound together. Here, we seek to examine if changes in sodium chloride concentration alter the interaction between NCC and ENaC. We hypothesize that the change in ion concentrations will significantly influence the interaction between NCC and ENaC. After incubating 4 dishes of mouse DCT (mDCT15) cells with different sodium chloride concentrations for 30 minutes, Co‐immunoprecipitation (CO‐IP) was conducted to examine changes in interactions between NCC and ENaC. We have confirmed expression of NCC, ENaC and phospho‐NCC under experimental conditions. Experiments to determine whether the interaction between NCC and ENaC is changed are ongoing. With our results, our knowledge of how different ion concentrations influence the interaction of NCC and ENaC will be enhanced and will be used to better understand how this mechanistic relationship can lead to the development of new therapies or the better utilization of existing therapies that will serve to improve the treatment of hypertension and salt sensitivity.Support or Funding InformationR25 DK 101390: Summer Undergraduate Program in Renal Research (SUPERR)T32: 5T32DK007656‐28 (Dr. Keyona King‐Medina)VA Merit Awards: I01BX002322‐01 (RSH) and I01BX000994 (HC) (Dr. Robert S. Hoover)