Hypotonic Swelling Research Articles

Advanced cardiac chemical exchange saturation transfer (cardioCEST) MRI for in vivo cell tracking and metabolic imaging.

An improved pre-clinical cardiac chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) pulse sequence (cardioCEST) was used to selectively visualize paramagnetic CEST (paraCEST)-labeled cells following intramyocardial implantation. In addition, cardioCEST was used to examine the effect of diet-induced obesity upon myocardial creatine CEST contrast. CEST pulse sequences were designed from standard turbo-spin-echo and gradient-echo sequences, and a cardiorespiratory-gated steady-state cine gradient-echo sequence. In vitro validation studies performed in phantoms composed of 20 mM Eu-HPDO3A, 20 mM Yb-HPDO3A, or saline demonstrated similar CEST contrast by spin-echo and gradient-echo pulse sequences. Skeletal myoblast cells (C2C12) were labeled with either Eu-HPDO3A or saline using a hypotonic swelling procedure and implanted into the myocardium of C57B6/J mice. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry confirmed cellular levels of Eu of 2.1 × 10(-3) ng/cell in Eu-HPDO3A-labeled cells and 2.3 × 10(-5) ng/cell in saline-labeled cells. In vivo cardioCEST imaging of labeled cells at ±15 ppm was performed 24 h after implantation and revealed significantly elevated asymmetric magnetization transfer ratio values in regions of Eu-HPDO3A-labeled cells when compared with surrounding myocardium or saline-labeled cells. We further utilized the cardioCEST pulse sequence to examine changes in myocardial creatine in response to diet-induced obesity by acquiring pairs of cardioCEST images at ±1.8 ppm. While ventricular geometry and function were unchanged between mice fed either a high-fat diet or a corresponding control low-fat diet for 14 weeks, myocardial creatine CEST contrast was significantly reduced in mice fed the high-fat diet. The selective visualization of paraCEST-labeled cells using cardioCEST imaging can enable investigation of cell fate processes in cardioregenerative medicine, or multiplex imaging of cell survival with imaging of cardiac structure and function and additional imaging of myocardial creatine.

TRPV4 and AQP4 Channels Synergistically Regulate Cell Volume and Calcium Homeostasis in Retinal Müller Glia.

Brain edema formation occurs after dysfunctional control of extracellular volume partly through impaired astrocytic ion and water transport. Here, we show that such processes might involve synergistic cooperation between the glial water channel aquaporin 4 (AQP4) and the transient receptor potential isoform 4 (TRPV4), a polymodal swelling-sensitive cation channel. In mouse retinas, TRPV4 colocalized with AQP4 in the end feet and radial processes of Müller astroglia. Genetic ablation of TRPV4 did not affect the distribution of AQP4 and vice versa. However, retinas from Trpv4(-/-) and Aqp4(-/-) mice exhibited suppressed transcription of genes encoding Trpv4, Aqp4, and the Kir4.1 subunit of inwardly rectifying potassium channels. Swelling and [Ca(2+)]i elevations evoked in Müller cells by hypotonic stimulation were antagonized by the selective TRPV4 antagonist HC-067047 (2-methyl-1-[3-(4-morpholinyl)propyl]-5-phenyl-N-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-1H-pyrrole-3-carboxamide) or Trpv4 ablation. Elimination of Aqp4 suppressed swelling-induced [Ca(2+)]i elevations but only modestly attenuated the amplitude of Ca(2+) signals evoked by the TRPV4 agonist GSK1016790A [(N-((1S)-1-{[4-((2S)-2-{[(2,4-dichlorophenyl)sulfonyl]amino}-3-hydroxypropanoyl)-1-piperazinyl]carbonyl}-3-methylbutyl)-1-benzothiophene-2-carboxamide]. Glial cells lacking TRPV4 but not AQP4 showed deficits in hypotonic swelling and regulatory volume decrease. Functional synergy between TRPV4 and AQP4 during cell swelling was confirmed in the heterologously expressing Xenopus oocyte model. Importantly, when the swelling rate was osmotically matched for AQP4-positive and AQP4-negative oocytes, TRPV4 activation became independent of AQP4. We conclude that AQP4-mediated water fluxes promote the activation of the swelling sensor, whereas Ca(2+) entry through TRPV4 channels reciprocally modulates volume regulation, swelling, and Aqp4 gene expression. Therefore, TRPV4-AQP4 interactions constitute a molecular system that fine-tunes astroglial volume regulation by integrating osmosensing, calcium signaling, and water transport and, when overactivated, triggers pathological swelling. Significance statement: We characterize the physiological features of interactions between the astroglial swelling sensor transient receptor potential isoform 4 (TRPV4) and the aquaporin 4 (AQP4) water channel in retinal Müller cells. Our data reveal an elegant and complex set of mechanisms involving reciprocal interactions at the level of glial gene expression, calcium homeostasis, swelling, and volume regulation. Specifically, water influx through AQP4 drives calcium influx via TRPV4 in the glial end foot, which regulates expression of Aqp4 and Kir4.1 genes and facilitates the time course and amplitude of hypotonicity-induced swelling and regulatory volume decrease. We confirm the crucial facets of the signaling mechanism in heterologously expressing oocytes. These results identify the molecular mechanism that contributes to dynamic regulation of glial volume but also provide new insights into the pathophysiology of glial reactivity and edema formation.

Vascular endothelial cell membranes differentiate between stretch and shear stress through transitions in their lipid phases.

Vascular endothelial cells (ECs) respond to the hemodynamic forces stretch and shear stress by altering their morphology, functions, and gene expression. However, how they sense and differentiate between these two forces has remained unknown. Here we report that the plasma membrane itself differentiates between stretch and shear stress by undergoing transitions in its lipid phases. Uniaxial stretching and hypotonic swelling increased the lipid order of human pulmonary artery EC plasma membranes, thereby causing a transition from the liquid-disordered phase to the liquid-ordered phase in some areas, along with a decrease in membrane fluidity. In contrast, shear stress decreased the membrane lipid order and increased membrane fluidity. A similar increase in lipid order occurred when the artificial lipid bilayer membranes of giant unilamellar vesicles were stretched by hypotonic swelling, indicating that this is a physical phenomenon. The cholesterol content of EC plasma membranes significantly increased in response to stretch but clearly decreased in response to shear stress. Blocking these changes in the membrane lipid order by depleting membrane cholesterol with methyl-β-cyclodextrin or by adding cholesterol resulted in a marked inhibition of the EC response specific to stretch and shear stress, i.e., phosphorylation of PDGF receptors and phosphorylation of VEGF receptors, respectively. These findings indicate that EC plasma membranes differently respond to stretch and shear stress by changing their lipid order, fluidity, and cholesterol content in opposite directions and that these changes in membrane physical properties are involved in the mechanotransduction that activates membrane receptors specific to each force.

Preparation of Amniocytes for Interphase Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH).

FISH has been used to detect and clarify deletions and/or other structural rearrangements, and also has applications in interphase analysis. This unit describes preparation of uncultured amniotic fluid cells for FISH analysis. Cells are swollen, and then slides are prepared by standard methods. The cells are then fixed and permeabilized for subsequent FISH. An alternate protocol describes attachment of amniocytes to a glass or plastic surface followed by hypotonic swelling, fixation, and permeabilization for subsequent FISH. Interphase FISH analysis of amniotic fluid cells is also described.

In-vitro cytocidal effect of water on bladder cancer cells: The potential role for intraperitoneal lavage during radical cystectomy.

We investigate the cytocidal effect of water on bladder cancer cells. Intraperitoneal lavage with sterile water is sometimes used during radical cystectomy to lyse cancer cells that might have escaped the surgical specimen. The efficacy of this approach at the cellular level is unknown. Three bladder cancer cell lines of varying grade, RT4, TCCSUP and T24 were exposed to sterile water, and morphological changes were closely observed under microscopy. Changes of cell membrane integrity, cell viability, and cell number of re-incubated cells after water exposure were measured to determine water induced hypotonic shock. The low-grade RT4 cells started swelling immediately upon exposure to water followed by rupture within 3 minutes. The higher grade TCCSUP and T24 cells demonstrated limited hypotonic swelling with significantly less cell rupture after 10 minutes. The damage to cell membrane of RT4 cells was evident at 1 minute; only 10.0% of cells were intact at 10 minutes. On the other hand, 41.9% and 77.8% of TCCSUP and T24 cells were intact at 10 minutes, respectively. Percentage of viable cells at 10 minutes was 2.1 ± 2.3%, 2.3 ± 0.4%, and 16.1 ± 0.6% for RT4, TCCSUP, and T24, respectively. Cytocidal effect of hypotonic shock can be achieved, to varying degrees, by exposing bladder cancer cells to water for at least 10 minutes. This in vitro study may have bearing on the effects seen with intraperitoneal lavage using sterile water during radical cystectomy.

Hypotonic swelling promotes nitric oxide release in cardiac ventricular myocytes: impact on swelling-induced negative inotropic effect.

Cardiomyocyte swelling occurs in multiple pathological situations and has been associated with contractile dysfunction, cell death, and enhanced propensity to arrhythmias. We investigate whether hypotonic swelling promotes nitric oxide (NO) release in cardiomyocytes, and whether it impacts on swelling-induced contractile dysfunction. Superfusing rat cardiomyocytes with a hypotonic solution (HS; 217 mOsm), increased cell volume, reduced myocyte contraction and Ca(2+) transient, and increased NO-sensitive 4-amino-5-methylamino-2',7'-difluorofluorescein diacetate (DAF-FM) fluorescence. When cells were exposed to HS + 2.5 mM of the NO synthase inhibitor l-NAME, cell swelling occurred in the absence of NO release. Swelling-induced NO release was also prevented by the nitric oxide synthase 1 (NOS1) inhibitor, nitroguanidine, and significantly reduced in NOS1 knockout mice. Additionally, colchicine (inhibitor of microtubule polymerization) prevented the increase in DAF-FM fluorescence induced by HS, indicating that microtubule integrity is necessary for swelling-induced NO release. The swelling-induced negative inotropic effect was exacerbated in the presence of either l-NAME, nitroguandine, the guanylate cyclase inhibitor, ODQ, or the PKG inhibitor, KT5823, suggesting that NOS1-derived NO provides contractile support via a cGMP/PKG-dependent mechanism. Indeed, ODQ reduced Ca(2+) wave velocity and both ODQ and KT5823 reduced the HS-induced increment in ryanodine receptor (RyR2, Ser2808) phosphorylation, suggesting that in this context, cGMP/PKG may contribute to preserve contractile function by enhancing sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) release. Our findings suggest a novel mechanism for NO release in cardiomyocytes with putative pathophysiological relevance determined, at least in part, by its capability to reduce the extent of contractile dysfunction associated with hypotonic swelling.

Abstract 99: Hypotonic Swelling Promotes Nitric Oxide Release in Cardiac Ventricular Myocytes

Cardiac myocyte swelling occurs in multiple pathological situations and in particular contributes to the deleterious effects of ischemia and reperfusion by promoting contractile dysfunction. We investigated whether hypotonic swelling promotes nitric oxide (NO) release in cardiac myocytes and if so, whether it impacts on swelling induced contractile dysfunction. Perfusing rat cardiac myocytes, loaded with the NO sensor DAF-FM, with a hypotonic solution (HS; 217 mOsm), increased cell volume, reduced myocyte contraction and Ca2+ transient amplitude and significantly increased DAF-FM fluorescence. When cells were exposed to the HS supplemented with 2.5 mM of the NO synthase inhibitor L-NAME, cell swelling occurred in the absence of NO release. Swelling-induced NO release was also prevented by the NOS1 inhibitor, Nitroguanidine. In addition, Colchicine (an inhibitor of microtubule polymerization) prevented the increase in DAF-FM fluorescence induced by HS indicating that microtubule integrity is necessary for swelling-induced NO release. The swelling-induced negative inotropic effect was exacerbated in the presence of either L-NAME, Nitroguandine or the guanylate cyclase inhibitor, ODQ, suggesting that NOS1-derived NO provides contractile support via a GMP-dependent mechanism. Indeed, ODQ reduced Ca2+ wave velocity and the HS-induced increment in ryanodine receptor (RyR2) phosphorylation at site Ser2808 suggesting that in the context of hypotonic swelling, cGMP may contribute to preserve contractile function by enhancing SR Ca2+ release. Our findings suggest a novel mechanism for NO release in cardiac myocytes with putative pathophysiological relevance in the context of ischemia and reperfusion, where it may be cardioprotective by reducing the extent of contractile dysfunction associated with hypotonic swelling.

Temperature-induced inactivation of cytoplasmic biogel osmosensing properties is associated with suppression of regulatory volume decrease in A549 cells.

Upstream intermediates of intracellular signaling involved in cell volume regulation remain poorly explored. Recently, we demonstrated that osmolarity-induced volume changes in permeabilized cells were several-fold higher than those observed with intact cells, indicating the osmosensing properties of cytoplasmic gel. To further examine the role of cytoplasmic biogel in cell volume regulation, we compared the action of short-term heat treatment on volume changes in intact and permeabilized A549 cells. Pretreatment of A549 cells at 48 °C suppressed swelling triggered by dissipation of Donnan's equilibrium as well as by hyposmotic medium. Significantly, heat treatment completely abolished the action of hyposomotic medium on volume changes in permeabilized cells, showing that temperature elevation suppresses osmosensing properties via its effect on biogel rather than on plasma membrane water permeability. Identical heat treatment blocked the regulatory volume decrease (RVD) as well as the increment of Ba(2+)-sensitive K(+)-channel activity seen in control cells exposed to hyposmotic swelling. Unlike swelling, hyperosmotic shrinkage was decreased by twofold in cells subjected to 10-min preincubation at 50 °C. Our results disclose that osmosensing by cytoplasmic gel is a key event in the RVD triggered by hypotonic swelling. The role of biogel and plasma membrane in intracellular signaling triggered by hyperosmotic shrinkage should be further investigated.

Mechanosensitive release of adenosine 5'-triphosphate through pannexin channels and mechanosensitive upregulation of pannexin channels in optic nerve head astrocytes: a mechanism for purinergic involvement in chronic strain.

As adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) released from astrocytes can modulate many neural signaling systems, the triggers and pathways for this ATP release are important. Here, the ability of mechanical strain to trigger ATP release through pannexin channels and the effects of sustained strain on pannexin expression were examined in rat optic nerve head astrocytes. Astrocytes released ATP when subjected to 5% of equibiaxial strain or to hypotonic swelling. Although astrocytes expressed mRNA for pannexins 1-3, connexin 43, and VNUT, pharmacological analysis suggested a predominant role for pannexins in mechanosensitive ATP release, with Rho kinase contribution. Astrocytes from panx1(-/-) mice had reduced baseline and stimulated levels of extracellular ATP, confirming the role for pannexins. Swelling astrocytes triggered a regulatory volume decrease that was inhibited by apyrase or probenecid. The swelling-induced rise in calcium was inhibited by P2X7 receptor antagonists A438079 and AZ10606120, in addition to apyrase and carbenoxolone. Extended stretch of astrocytes in vitro upregulated expression of panx1 and panx2 mRNA. A similar upregulation was observed in vivo in optic nerve head tissue from the Tg-MYOC(Y437H) mouse model of chronic glaucoma; genes for panx1, panx2, and panx3 were increased, whereas immunohistochemistry confirmed increased expression of pannexin 1 protein. In summary, astrocytes released ATP in response to mechanical strain, with pannexin 1 the predominant efflux pathway. Sustained strain upregulated pannexins in vitro and in vivo. Together, these findings provide a mechanism by which extracellular ATP remains elevated under chronic mechanical strain, as found in the optic nerve head of patients with glaucoma.

Phosphoinositide Regulation of the Mechanosensitive Piezo Channels

Phosphoinositides are fundamental membrane lipids, e.g. phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) is the long known precursor for second messengers such as inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) and diacylglycerol (DAG). They are also involved in the regulation of ion channels, serve as membrane anchor for the cytoskeleton and required for hair cell function. The novel mechanically gated ion channel Piezo1 is a key player in erythrocyte volume regulation and Piezo2 is responsible for the rapidly adapting mechanically activated currents in sensory neurons. Mechanosensitive ion channels are proposed to be regulated by the cytoskeleton and membrane lipids in general. Piezo1 channel activity is inhibited by the disruption of the actin cytoskeleton, and its sensitivity to mechanical stimuli is increased by hypotonic swelling, however, the lipid regulation of these channels remains unexplored.Piezo channels are activated by mechanical stimuli when expressed in heterologous systems unlike most mechanosensitive ion channel candidates. Taking advantage of this we used electrophysiological techniques on HEK293 cells expressing Piezo channels to investigate the effects of Phospholipase C (PLC) activating pathways and specifically phosphoinositide depletion. PLC activation, which converts PIP2 into IP3 and DAG, inhibited mechanically activated currents in Piezo expressing cells. Phosphoinositide depletion using rapidly inducible lipid phosphatases also inhibited Piezo channel activity, but without generating IP3 or DAG. Our data provides evidence that phosphoinositides are involved in the regulation of Piezo channels, thus our study contributes to the understanding of lipid regulation of mechanically gated channels.

Regulatory Volume Decrease in Neural Precursor Cells: Taurine Efflux and Gene Microarray Analysis

Background/Aims: Neural stem/ progenitor cells (NPCs) endure important changes in cell volume during growth, proliferation and migration. As a first approach to know about NPC response to cell volume changes, the Regulatory Volume Decrease (RVD) subsequent to hypotonic swelling was investigated. Methods: NPCs obtained from the mesencephalon and the subventricular zone of embryonic and adult mice, respectively, were grown and cultured as neurospheres. Cell volume changes were measured by large-angle light-scattering and taurine efflux by [³H]-taurine. Expression of genes encoding molecules related to RVD was analysed using a DNA microarray obtained from NPC samples. Results: Embryonic and adult NPCs exposed to osmolarity reduction (H15, H30, H40) exhibited rapid swelling followed by RVD. The magnitude, efficiency and pharmacological profile, of RVD and of [³H]-taurine osmosensitive efflux were comparable to those found in cultured brain cells, astrocytes and neurons. The relative expression of genes encoding molecules related to volume regulation, i.e. K⁺ and Cl^- channels, cotransporters, exchangers and aquaporins were identified in NPCs. Conclusion: NPCs show the ability to respond to hypotonic-evoked volume changes by adaptative recovery processes, similar to those found in other cultured brain cells. Genes related to molecules involved in RVD were found expressed in NPCs.

Identification of Key Signaling Molecules Involved in the Activation of the Swelling-Activated Chloride Current in Human Glioblastoma Cells

The swelling-activated chloride current (I Cl,Vol) is abundantly expressed in glioblastoma (GBM) cells, where it controls cell volume and invasive migration. The transduction pathway mediating I Cl,Vol activation in GBM cells is, however, poorly understood. By means of pharmacological and electrophysiological approaches, on GL-15 human GBM cells we found that I Cl,Vol activation by hypotonic swelling required the activity of a U73122-sensitive phospholipase C (PLC). I Cl,Vol activation could also be induced by the membrane-permeable diacylglycerol (DAG) analog OAG. In contrast, neither calcium (Ca(2+)) chelation by BAPTA-AM nor changes in PKC activity were able to affect I Cl,Vol activation by hypotonic swelling. We further found that R59022, an inhibitor of diacylglycerol kinase (DGK), reverted I Cl,Vol activation, suggesting the involvement of phosphatidic acid. In addition, I Cl,Vol activation required the activity of a EHT1864-sensitive Rac1 small GTPase and the resulting actin polymerization, as I Cl,Vol activation was prevented by cytochalasin B. We finally show that I Cl,Vol can be activated by the promigratory fetal calf serum in a PLC- and DGK-dependent manner. This observation is potentially relevant because blood serum can likely come in contact with glioblastoma cells in vivo as a result of the tumor-related partial breakdown of the blood-brain barrier. Given the relevance of I Cl,Vol in GBM cell volume regulation and invasiveness, the several key signaling molecules found in this study to be involved in the activation of the I Cl,Vol may represent potential therapeutic targets against this lethal cancer.

Gd loading by hypotonic swelling: an efficient and safe route for cellular labeling

Cells incubated in hypo-osmotic media swell and their membranes become leaky. The flow of water that enters the cells results in the net transport of molecules present in the incubation medium directly into the cell cytoplasm. This phenomenon has been exploited to label cells with MRI Gd-containing contrast agents. It has been found that, in the presence of 100 mM Gd-HPDO3A in an incubation medium characterized by an overall osmolarity of 160 mOsm l⁻¹, each cell is loaded with amounts of paramagnetic complex ranging from 2 × 10⁹ to 2 × 10¹⁰ depending on the cell type. To obtain more insight into the determinants of cellular labeling by the 'hypo-osmotic shock' methodology, a study on cell viability, proliferation rate and cell morphology was carried out on J774A.1 and K562 cells as representative of cells grown in adhesion and suspended ones, respectively. Moreover a comparison of the efficiency of the proposed method with established cell labeling procedures such as pinocytosis and electroporation was carried out. Finally, the effects of the residual electric charge, the size and some structural features of the metal complex were investigated. In summary, the 'hypotonic shock' methodology appears to be an efficient and promising tool to pursue cellular labeling with paramagnetic complexes. Its implementation is straightforward and one may foresee that it will be largely applied in in vitro cellular labeling of many cell types.

Melatonin down-regulates volume-sensitive chloride channels in fibroblasts

Melatonin has been reported to present with vasorelaxant and anti-fibrotic properties. We hypothesized that melatonin may down-regulate volume-regulated anion channels (VRAC) in fibroblasts to limit their migration and proliferation. While acute exposure of L929 fibroblasts to melatonin did not result in a significant decrease in VRAC current, pretreatment with 100 μM melatonin for 1 h decreased swelling-dependent activation of anion currents by 83% as measured by whole-cell perforated patch-clamp technique. This down-regulation of VRAC currents was dose-dependent with a half-maximal inhibition of 3.02 ± 0.48 μM. Overnight treatment of cells with 100 nM melatonin had the same inhibitory potency as a 1-h treatment with 100 μM. A similar down-regulatory effect of melatonin on VRAC was observed in primary rat lung fibroblasts. The effect of melatonin was prevented by luzindole and K185 that suggests implication of MT2 receptor. GF109203X, a protein kinase C inhibitor, blocked melatonin's action on VRAC, indicating that MT2 receptor activation results in stimulation of PKC. Consequently, melatonin inhibited regulatory volume decrease following hypotonic swelling of cells. Melatonin also decreased the migration of L929 fibroblasts through the same pathways that blocked VRAC. There was no significant inhibition of cell proliferation. Our study suggests that the attenuation of fibrosis and vascular remodeling by melatonin seen in animal models of hypertension and pulmonary fibrosis might be, in part, related to blunted fibroblast migration possibly through protein kinase C-mediated decrease in chloride channel activity.

Gating the mechanical channel Piezo1

Piezo1 is a eukaryotic cation-selective mechanosensitive ion channel. To understand channel function in vivo, we first need to analyze and compare the response in the whole cell and the patch. In patches, Piezo1 inactivates and the current is fit well by a 3-state model with a single pressure-dependent rate. However, repeated stimulation led to an irreversible loss of inactivation. Remarkably, the loss of inactivation did not occur on a channel-by-channel basis but on all channels at the same time. Thus, the channels are in common mechanical domain. Divalent ions decreased the unitary conductance from ~68 pS to ~37 pS, irrespective of the cation species. Mg and Ca did not affect inactivation rates, but Zn caused a 3-fold slowing. CytochalasinD (cytoD) does not alter inactivation rates or the transition to the non-inactivating mode but does reduce the steady-state response. Whole-cell currents were similar to patch currents but also had significant differences. In contrast to the patch, cytoD inhibited the current suggesting that the activating forces were transmitted through the actin cytoskeleton. Hypotonic swelling that prestressed the cytoskeleton and the bilayer greatly increased the sensitivity of both control and cytoD cells so there are two pathways to transmit force to the channels. In contrast to patch, removing divalent ions decreased the whole-cell current. The difference between whole cell and patch properties provide new insights into our understanding of the Piezo1 gating mechanisms and cautions against generalization to in situ behavior.

Protein Implicated in Nonsyndromic Mental Retardation Regulates Protein Kinase A (PKA) Activity

Mutation of the coiled-coil and C2 domain-containing 1A (CC2D1A) gene, which encodes a C2 domain and DM14 domain-containing protein, has been linked to severe autosomal recessive nonsyndromic mental retardation. Using a mouse model that produces a truncated form of CC2D1A that lacks the C2 domain and three of the four DM14 domains, we show that CC2D1A is important for neuronal differentiation and brain development. CC2D1A mutant neurons are hypersensitive to stress and have a reduced capacity to form dendrites and synapses in culture. At the biochemical level, CC2D1A transduces signals to the cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP)-protein kinase A (PKA) pathway during neuronal cell differentiation. PKA activity is compromised, and the translocation of its catalytic subunit to the nucleus is also defective in CC2D1A mutant cells. Consistently, phosphorylation of the PKA target cAMP-responsive element-binding protein, at serine 133, is nearly abolished in CC2D1A mutant cells. The defects in cAMP/PKA signaling were observed in fibroblast, macrophage, and neuronal primary cells derived from the CC2D1A KO mice. CC2D1A associates with the cAMP-PKA complex following forskolin treatment and accumulates in vesicles or on the plasma membrane in wild-type cells, suggesting that CC2D1A may recruit the PKA complex to the membrane to facilitate signal transduction. Together, our data show that CC2D1A is an important regulator of the cAMP/PKA signaling pathway, which may be the underlying cause for impaired mental function in nonsyndromic mental retardation patients with CC2D1A mutation.

Hypotonicity-induced TRPV4 function in renal collecting duct cells: modulation by progressive cross-talk with Ca2+-activated K+ channels

The mouse cortical collecting duct (CCD) M-1 cells were grown to confluency on coverslips to assess the interaction between TRPV4 and Ca2+-activated K+ channels. Immunocytochemistry demonstrated strong expression of TRPV4, along with the CCD marker, aquaporin-2, and the Ca2+-activated K+ channels, the small conductance SK3 (KCa2.3) channel and large conductance BKα channel (KCa1.1). TRPV4 overexpression studies demonstrated little physical dependency of the K+ channels on TRPV4. However, activation of TRPV4 by hypotonic swelling (or GSK1016790A, a selective agonist) or inhibition by the selective antagonist, HC-067047, demonstrated a strong dependency of SK3 and BK-α activation on TRPV4-mediated Ca2+ influx. Selective inhibition of BK-α channel (Iberiotoxin) or SK3 channel (apamin), thereby depolarizing the cells, further revealed a significant dependency of TRPV4-mediated Ca2+ influx on activation of both K+ channels. It is concluded that a synergistic cross-talk exists between the TRPV4 channel and SK3 and BK-α channels to provide a tight functional regulation between the channel groups. This cross-talk may be progressive in nature where the initial TRPV4-mediated Ca2+ influx would first activate the highly Ca2+-sensitive SK3 channel which, in turn, would lead to enhanced Ca2+ influx and activation of the less Ca2+-sensitive BK channel.

A study of the properties of erythrocytes with polarized light under hypotonic conditions

We consider the application of polarized radiation to the study of the properties of blood and erythrocyte suspensions, including the case of disturbance of the osmotic balance in the erythrocyte-surrounding-medium system. We study experimentally erythrocyte suspensions prepared by diluting whole donor blood with autoplasma, serum, and NaCl aqueous solutions of different concentrations. The Stokes parameters of scattered radiation have been measured with a Stokes polarimeter using a He-Ne laser as a source of linearly or elliptically polarized radiation (λ = 0.63 μm). We show that, upon illumination of erythrocyte suspensions with linearly or circularly polarized radiation, the Stokes parameters of the scattered radiation are highly sensitive to changes in the shape and size of erythrocytes upon hypotonic swelling.

ENU Mutagenesis in the Mouse for Identification of Genes Regulating Erythropoiesis: a Mouse Mutant with An Activating Mutation of the KCl Cotransporter, KCC1 Causing Dehydrated Red Cells

Abstract 684Genome-wide phenotype-driven studies have emerged as a powerful tool for the identification of novel genes in a biological process of interest, new functions for existing genes and the establishment of mouse models of human disease. Recent advances in exomic and whole genome sequencing has simplified mutation detection, making genetic screens in the mouse more facile. We have employed a large-scale mutagenesis screen in mice using the chemical mutagen N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) to identify genes regulating erythropoiesis. In this dominant screen, G1 progeny were screened at 7 weeks of age by automated hematological analysis for isolated abnormalities of red cell indices (HCT, RCC and MCV) defined as greater than three standard deviations from the wild type population. Here, we describe the RBC10 mouse line, in which homozygotes had mild anemia with microcytosis, target cells, spherocytes, reticulocytosis and increased resistance to osmotic stress. A combination of SSLP and SNP mapping isolated the genetic mutation to a 3.65 Mb region on chromosome 8. Whole genome Next Generation Sequencing of the mapped interval identified an A to T nucleotide substitution within the coding region of the potassium chloride (KCl) co-transporter, Slc12a4 (KCC1), resulting in a non-conservative amino acid substitution from methionine to lysine at position 935 within the C-terminal cytoplasmic domain. KCC1 and KCC3 function are the major erythroid KCl co-transporters that export KCl in response to hypotonic swelling. We hypothesized that the M935K was an activating mutation of KCC1, based upon the microcytosis and resistance to osmotic stress, which contrasts with the macrocytic phenotype of red cells lacking both KCC1 and KCC3. 86Rb efflux assay confirmed increased KCC1 activity of RBC mutant red cells. We propose that the M935K mutation increases activity of KCC1 by preventing phosphorylation of the nearby threonine reside, a critical regulatory target of the serine-threonine kinase, WNK1. Disclosures:No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Mechanisms of ATP release by human trabecular meshwork cells, the enabling step in purinergic regulation of aqueous humor outflow.

Our guiding hypothesis is that ecto-enzymatic conversion of extracellular ATP to adenosine activates A(1) adenosine receptors, reducing resistance to aqueous humor outflow and intraocular pressure. The initial step in this purinergic regulation is ATP release from outflow-pathway cells by mechanisms unknown. We measured similar ATP release from human explant-derived primary trabecular meshwork (TM) cells (HTM) and a human TM cell line (TM5). Responses to 21 inhibitors indicated that pannexin-1 (PX1) and connexin (Cx) hemichannels and P2X(7) receptors (P2RX(7) ) were comparably important in modulating ATP release induced by hypotonic swelling, whereas vesicular release was insignificant. Consistent with prior studies of PX1 activity in certain other cells, ATP release was lowered by the reducing agent dithiothreitol. Overexpressing PX1 in HEK293T cells promoted, while partial knockdown (KD) in both HEK293T and TM5 cells inhibited hypotonicity-activated ATP release. Additionally, KD reduced the pharmacologically defined contribution of PX1 and enhanced those of Cx and P2RX(7) . ATP release was also triggered by raising intracellular Ca(2+) activity with ionomycin after a prolonged lag time and was unaffected by the PX1 blocker probenecid, but nearly abolished by P2RX(7) antagonists. We conclude that swelling-stimulated ATP release from human TM cells is physiologically mediated by PX1 and Cx hemichannels and P2X(7) receptors, but not by vesicular release. PX1 appears not to be stimulated by intracellular Ca(2+) in TM cells, but can be modulated by oxidation-reduction state. The P2RX(7) -dependent component of swelling-activated release may be mediated by PX1 hemichannels or reflect apoptotic magnification of ATP release, either through itself and/or hemichannels.