Regulation Of Intracellular Chloride Research Articles

Intracellular chloride regulation mediates local sleep pressure in the cortex.

Extended wakefulness is associated with reduced performance and the build-up of sleep pressure. In the cortex, this manifests as changes in network activity. These changes show local variation depending on the waking experience, and their underlying mechanisms represent targets for overcoming the effects of tiredness. Here, we reveal a central role for intracellular chloride regulation, which sets the strength of postsynaptic inhibition via GABAA receptors in cortical pyramidal neurons. Wakefulness results in depolarizing shifts in the equilibrium potential for GABAA receptors, reflecting local activity-dependent processes during waking and involving changes in chloride cotransporter activity. These changes underlie electrophysiological and behavioral markers of local sleep pressure within the cortex, including the levels of slow-wave activity during non-rapid eye movement sleep and low-frequency oscillatory activity and reduced performance levels in the sleep-deprived awake state. These findings identify chloride regulation as a crucial link between sleep-wake history, cortical activity and behavior.

Chloride Dysregulation through Downregulation of KCC2 Mediates Neuropathic Pain in Both Sexes

The behavioral features of neuropathic pain are not sexually dimorphic despite sex differences in the underlying neuroimmune signaling. This raises questions about whether neural processing is comparably altered. Here, we test whether the K+-Cl- co-transporter KCC2, which regulates synaptic inhibition, plays an equally important role in development of neuropathic pain in male and female rodents. Past studies on KCC2 tested only males. We find that inhibiting KCC2 in uninjured animals reproduces behavioral and electrophysiological features of neuropathic pain in both sexes and, consistent with equivalent injury-induced downregulation of KCC2, that counteracting chloride dysregulation reverses injury-induced behavioral and electrophysiological changes in both sexes. These findings demonstrate that KCC2 downregulation contributes equally to pain hypersensitivity in males and females. Whereas diverse (and sexually dimorphic) mechanisms regulate KCC2, regulation of intracellular chloride relies almost exclusively on KCC2. Directly targeting KCC2 thus remains a promising strategy for treatment of neuropathic pain in both sexes.

Intracellular Chloride Regulation of Supraoptic Vasopressin Neurons during Salt Loading

Salt loading (SL) increases intracellular chloride concentration [Cl]i, impairing GABAA inhibition of arginine vasopressin (AVP) neurons in the supraoptic nucleus (SON) of hypothalamus. But the regulatory mechanisms leading to increased [Cl]i is not completely understood. Based on previous studies, we hypothesize that SL activates tyrosine receptor kinase B (TrkB) and downregulates K+/Cl− co‐transporter 2 (KCC2) membrane expression. Downregulation of KCC2 decreases the efflux of chloride ion causing increase in [Cl]i in SON AVP neurons. In this study, we have combined virally mediated ClopHensorN, a relatively new ratiometric chloride imaging technique with capillary based Simple Western technology to record changes in [Cl]i and specifically detect KCC2 protein expression in individual SON AVP neurons.Adult male Sprague Dawley rats were bilaterally injected in the SON with rAAV2‐0VP1‐ClopHensorN. The ClopHensorN (Addgene Plasmid #50758 from Colin Akerman) was packaged in an AAV2 vector with a AVP specific promotor (Addgene Plasmid #40868 from Harold Gainer). After 2 weeks, the rats were given either water or 2% NaCl to drink for 7 days. At the end of the protocol, the rats were anesthetized with inactin and their SONs were dissociated. The cells were plated on coverslips and placed in a perfusion bath on an inverted microscope for ratiometric live cell imaging. ClopHensorN positive neurons were tested for decrease or increase in [Cl]i to focal application of GABAA agonist muscimol (100uM). After imaging, individual neurons were collected by aspirating into a patch pipette to verify KCC2 and ß‐Actin protein expression. The standard matrix (12–230kDa) in Protein Simple Wes was used to identify and quantitate very low concentration of protein from single neuron. Data were analyzed by Chi‐squared test and one‐way ANOVA with Bonferroni comparisons.Muscimol application to SL SONs either significantly increased chloride efflux (p<0.05;13/20) or did not change chloride flux (7/20). TrkB antagonist (AnA,50uM) significantly blocked the chloride effluxes. SONs from euhydrated rats showed muscimol induced chloride influx (p<0.05;11/16). KCC2 antagonist (VU 0240551,10uM) significantly blocked the chloride influxes in euhydrated rats. SON AVP neurons that responded to pharmacological inhibitors during chloride imaging were viable and expressed KCC2 co‐transporter and ß‐Actin. Neurons that did not respond during chloride imaging did not had KCC2 and ß‐Actin protein expression. Salt loading increases [Cl]i in SON AVP neurons through TrKB‐KCC2 dependent mechanism.Support or Funding InformationSupported by R01 HL119458 and 18PRE34060035This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.

Intracellular Chloride Regulation in AVP+ and VIP+ Neurons of the Suprachiasmatic Nucleus

Several reports have described excitatory GABA transmission in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), the master pacemaker of circadian physiology. However, there is disagreement regarding the prevalence, timing, and neuronal location of excitatory GABA transmission in the SCN. Whether GABA is inhibitory or excitatory depends, in part, on the intracellular concentration of chloride ([Cl−]i). Here, using ratiometric Cl− imaging, we have investigated intracellular chloride regulation in AVP and VIP-expressing SCN neurons and found evidence suggesting that [Cl−]i is higher during the day than during the night in both AVP+ and VIP+ neurons. We then investigated the contribution of the cation chloride cotransporters to setting [Cl−]i in these SCN neurons and found that the chloride uptake transporter NKCC1 contributes to [Cl−]i regulation in SCN neurons, but that the KCCs are the primary regulators of [Cl−]i in SCN neurons. Interestingly, we observed that [Cl−]i is differentially regulated between AVP+ and VIP+ neurons-a low concentration of the loop diuretic bumetanide had differential effects on AVP+ and VIP+ neurons, while blocking the KCCs with VU0240551 had a larger effect on VIP+ neurons compared to AVP+ neurons.

Reduced Efficacy of the KCC2 Cotransporter Promotes Epileptic Oscillations in a Subiculum Network Model.

Ion regulation in the brain is a major determinant of neural excitability. Intracellular chloride in neurons, a partial determinant of the resting potential and the inhibitory reversal potentials, is regulated together with extracellular potassium via kation chloride cotransporters. During temporal lobe epilepsy, the homeostatic regulation of intracellular chloride is impaired in pyramidal cells, yet how this dysregulation may lead to seizures has not been explored. Using a realistic neural network model describing ion mechanisms, we show that chloride homeostasis pathology provokes seizure activity analogous to recordings from epileptogenic brain tissue. We show that there is a critical percentage of pathological cells required for seizure initiation. Our model predicts that restoration of the chloride homeostasis in pyramidal cells could be a viable antiepileptic strategy.

Expression and Cellular Localisation of Chloride Intracellular Channel 3 in Human Placenta and Fetal Membranes

Chloride channels regulate the movement of a major cellular anion and are involved in fundamental processes that are critical for cell viability. Regulation of intracellular chloride is achieved by multiple classes of channel proteins. One class of putative channels are the chloride intracellular channel (CLIC) family. Evidence suggests that several CLICs are expressed in human placenta, although their roles in this tissue are not certain. Northern blot analysis has shown that CLIC3 is highly expressed in placenta relative to other human tissues; however, its cellular distribution is not known. This study used microarray expression profiling to clarify which CLICs are expressed in human placenta and RT–PCR, Western blot and immunohistochemistry to determine the expression pattern of CLIC3 in human placenta and fetal membranes. Placentas and fetal membranes were obtained from term pregnancies after delivery and placental tissue was obtained from first trimester following either chorionic villous sampling or elective pregnancy termination. Trophoblast cells were isolated from first trimester and term placentas and placental endothelial cells were isolated from term placentas. Microarray expression profiling identified high expression of mRNA for CLICs 1, 3 and 4 in the isolated first trimester and term trophoblast cells. High mRNA expression in the isolated endothelial cells was also found for CLICs 1 and 4, but not CLIC3. Low expression was found for CLIC5 in all three types of isolated cells. RT–PCR confirmed that CLIC3 mRNA was expressed in trophoblast cells at both gestational ages, but was not present in endothelial cells. CLIC3 mRNA was also identified in whole placental extracts at both gestational ages and in term amnion and choriodecidua. Immunohistochemistry using a chicken anti-human CLIC3 antibody localised strong CLIC3-specific staining to the syncytiotrophoblast and villous cytotrophoblast cells in both first trimester and term placentas, and weaker staining in extravillous trophoblast cells in first trimester. In fetal membranes at term strong CLIC3-specific staining was localised to chorionic trophoblast cells, with weaker staining in amniotic epithelial and decidual cells. It was previously shown that chloride uptake was increased into cells that had been transfected with CLIC3. CLIC3 may facilitate chloride ion movement and the regulation of cellular processes associated with the movement of chloride in the placental and fetal membrane cells in which it is expressed.

Cell Type-Specific Differences in Chloride-Regulatory Mechanisms and GABAAReceptor-Mediated Inhibition in Rat Substantia Nigra

The regulation of intracellular chloride has important roles in neuronal function, especially by setting the magnitude and direction of the Cl- flux gated by GABA(A) receptors. Previous studies have shown that GABA(A)-mediated inhibition is less effective in dopaminergic than in GABAergic neurons in substantia nigra. We studied whether this phenomenon may be related to a difference in Cl-regulatory mechanisms. Light-microscopic immunocytochemistry revealed that the potassium-chloride cotransporter 2 (KCC2) was localized only in the dendrites of nondopaminergic (primarily GABAergic) neurons in the substantia nigra, whereas the voltage-sensitive chloride channel 2 (ClC-2) was observed only in the dopaminergic neurons of the pars compacta. Electron-microscopic immunogold labeling confirmed that KCC2 is localized in the dendritic plasma membrane of GABAergic neurons close to inhibitory synapses. Confocal microscopy showed that ClC-2 was selectively expressed in the somatic and dendritic cell membranes of the dopaminergic neurons. Gramicidin-perforated-patch recordings revealed that the GABA(A) IPSP reversal potential was significantly less negative and had a much smaller hyperpolarizing driving force in dopaminergic than in GABAergic neurons. The GABA(A) reversal potential was significantly less negative in bicarbonate-free buffer in dopaminergic but not in GABAergic neurons. The present study suggests that KCC2 is responsible for maintaining the low intracellular Cl- concentration in nigral GABAergic neurons, whereas a sodium-dependent anion (Cl--HCO3-) exchanger and ClC-2 are likely to serve this role in dopaminergic neurons. The relatively low efficacy of GABAA-mediated inhibition in nigral dopaminergic neurons compared with nigral GABAergic neurons may be related to their lack of KCC2.

Regulation of intracellular chloride in hypertension

We had previously reported that intracellular chloride (iCl−) is increased in lymphocytes from the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) due to enhanced Cl− influx. The present study examined possible mechanisms of increased Cl− influx in the SHR. iCl− was measured in lymphocytes from SHR and age matched WKY rats 6-10 weeks old using the Cl− sensitive dye, MQAE. The iCl−, assayed in a HCO3− buffered media, was higher in cells from the SHR than those from WKY rats (43±5 vs 26±2 mmol/L, p<0.05). In Cl− depleted cells, re-exposure to Cl− resulted in a rapid influx of Cl− that was faster in the SHR than WKY cells (10.6±0.8 vs 6.9±0.6 mmol/min, respectively (p<0.005). Kinetic analysis of cells exposed to different external [Cl−] revealed that the Vmax was greater in the SHR than WKY (19.8±3.7 vs 12.4±2.0 mmole/min, respectively, p<0.05). There was no difference in the Km for external Cl− (73±7 vs 74±5 mM respectively) or in the Hill coefficients (3.8±0.7 vs 4.6±0.5 respectively). The high Hill coefficients obtained under these assay conditions likely reflects Cl− influx through one or more pathways. Cl− influx in lymphocytes is via a furosemide sensitive Na/K/2Cl co-transporter and through a DIDS sensitive Cl/HCO3 exchanger. We therefore examined these pathways to determine which of these transporters contributed to enhanced Cl− influx in the SHR. Na/K/2Cl co-transport inhibition with furosemide reduced the Cl− influx rates 40-50% and almost completely abolished the difference between SHR and WKY cells (4.9±0.8 vs 4.1±0.9 mmol/min respectively, ns). Cl/HCO3 exchange inhibition with DIDS also attenuated the the Cl− influx rates and almost completely abolished the difference between SHR and WKY cells (5.1±1.8 vs 4.6±1.6 mmol/min respectively, ns). Western blot analysis was used to determine NKCC1 and AE2 protein levels. Neither NKCC1 protein levels (6.13±2.37 vs 5.06±1.93 units, respectively) nor AE2 protein levels were significantly different in the SHR (6.67±2.40 vs 5.02±1.82 units respectively). We conclude that increased Cl− influx through both NKCC1 and AE2 contributes to the increased iCl− in the SHR. Because the protein levels were not different but the Vmax was higher in the SHR, we propose that this may be due to alterations in the post-translational regulation of these transporters.

Modulation of ion transport by direct targeting of protein phosphatase type 1 to the Na-K-Cl cotransporter.

The specificity of major protein phosphatases is conferred via targeting subunits, each of which binds specifically to the phosphatase and targets it to the vicinity of substrate proteins. In the case of protein phosphatase 1 (PP1), an RVXFXD motif on a targeting subunit binds to a cleft in PP1c, the catalytic subunit. Here we report that a substrate of PP1, the Na-K-Cl cotransporter (NKCC1), bears this motif in its N terminus near sites of regulatory phosphorylation and that direct binding of PP1 to NKCC1 is functionally important in determining the set point for intracellular chloride regulation. NKCC1 mutants in which the motif is destroyed or improved exhibit dramatically shifted activation curves because of a change in the rate of cotransporter dephosphorylation. Furthermore, direct interaction of NKCC1 and PP1c observed by coprecipitation of the two proteins is not seen in a mutant lacking the site. This establishes a new paradigm of phosphatase specificity, one in which a substrate protein containing an RVXFXD motif binds directly to PP1c; we propose that this may be a quite general mechanism.

Regulation of Intracellular Chloride by Cotransporters in Developing Lateral Superior Olive Neurons

The regulatory mechanisms of intracellular Cl- concentration ([Cl-]i) were investigated in the lateral superior olive (LSO) neurons of various developmental stages by taking advantage of gramicidin perforated patch recording mode, which enables neuronal [Cl-]i measurement. Responses to glycine changed from depolarization to hyperpolarization during the second week after birth, resulting from [Cl-]i decrease. Furosemide equally altered the [Cl-]i of both immature and mature LSO neurons, indicating substantial contributions of furosemide-sensitive intracellular Cl- regulators; i.e., K+-Cl- cotransporter (KCC) and Na+-K+-Cl- cotransporter (NKCC), throughout this early development. Increase of extracellular K+ concentration and replacement of intracellular K+ with Cs+ resulted in [Cl-]i elevation at postnatal days 13-15 (P13-P15), but not at P0-P2, indicating that the mechanism of neuronal Cl- extrusion is sensitive to both furosemide and K+-gradient and poorly developed in immature LSO neurons. In addition, removal of extracellular Na+ decreased [Cl-]i at P0-P2, suggesting the existence of extracellular Na+-dependent and furosemide-sensitive Cl- accumulation in immature LSO neurons. These data show clearly that developmental changes of Cl- cotransporters alter [Cl-]i and are responsible for the switch from the neonatal Cl- efflux to the mature Cl- influx in LSO neurons. Such maturational changes in Cl- cotransporters might have the important functional roles for glycinergic and GABAergic synaptic transmission and the broader implications for LSO and auditory development.

Intracellular chloride regulation in amphibian dorsal root ganglion neurones studied with ion-selective microelectrodes.

1. Intracellular Cl- activity (aiCl) and membrane potential (Em) were measured in frog dorsal root ganglion neurones (DRG neurones) using double-barrelled Cl- -selective microelectrodes. In standard Ringer solution buffered with HEPES (5 mM), equilibrated with air or 100% O2, the resting membrane potential was -57.7 +/- 1.0 mV and aiCl was 23.6 +/- 1.0 mM (n = 53). The value of aiCl was 2.6 times the activity expected for an equilibrium distribution and the difference between Em and ECl was 25 mV. 2. Removal of external Cl- led to a reversible fall in aiCl. Initial rates of decay and recovery of aiCl were 4.1 and 3.3 mM min-1, respectively. During the recovery of aiCl following return to standard Ringer solution, most of the movement of Cl- occurred against the driving force for a passive distribution. Changes in aiCl were not associated with changes in Em. Chloride fluxes estimated from initial rates of change in aiCl when external Cl- was removed were too high to be accounted for by electrodiffusion. 3. The intracellular accumulation of Cl- was dependent on the extracellular Cl- activity (aoCl). The relationship between aiCl and aoCl had a sigmoidal shape with a half-maximal activation of about 50 mM-external Cl-. 4. The steady-state aiCl depended on the simultaneous presence of extracellular Na+ and K+. Similarly, the active reaccumulation of Cl- after intracellular Cl- depletion was abolished in the absence of either Na+ or K+ in the bathing solution. 5. The reaccumulation of Cl- was inhibited by furosemide (0.5-1 x 10(-3) M) or bumetanide (10(-5) M). The decrease in aiCl observed in Cl- -free solutions was also inhibited by bumetanide. 6. Cell volume changes were calculated from the observed changes in aiCl. Cells were estimated to shrink in Cl- -free solutions to about 75% their initial volume, at an initial rate of 6% min-1. 7. The present results provide direct evidence for the active accumulation of Cl- in DRG neurones. The mechanism of Cl- transport is electrically silent, dependent on the simultaneous presence of external Cl-, Na+ and K+ and inhibited by loop diuretics. It is suggested that a Na+:K+:Cl- co-transport system mediates the active transport of Cl- across the cell membrane of DRG neurones.

Regulation of intracellular chloride in bullfrog choroid plexus

Intracellular Cl − activity (A Cl i) of the bullfrog choroidal epithelium has been studied using double-barreled Cl −-selective microelectrodes. microelectrodes. In bicarbonate-buffered saline, the brush-border membrane potential (V vc) was −43 mV, and A i Cl was 24 mM which was twice the predicted equilibrium activity. The uphill Cl − accumulation required the presence of external Na + and was inhibited by furosemide added to the basolateral side. Removal of HCO − 3 from the bath solution increased A i Cl. On addition of 3-isobutyl-1-methyl-xanthine (IBMX), V vc depolarized, and A i Cl approached the equilibrium activity. It is concluded that net Cl − secretion by the choroidal epithelium is mediated by a furosemide-sensitive, Na +-coupled Cl − uptake mechanism at the basolateral border and a Cl − conductive pathway at the brush border membrane. The results suggest that intracellular cAMP either increases the Cl − conductance of the epithelial membranes and/or inhibits the NaCl co-transport mechanism.

The role of chloride-bicarbonate exchange in the regulation of intracellular chloride in guinea-pig vas deferens.

The Cl-depleted smooth muscle cells of guinea-pig vas deferens rapidly restore their intracellular Cl activity ( aiCl ) to a level 5 times higher than that predicted by a passive distribution when Cl- ions are readmitted to the extracellular solution. Cl reaccumulation, measured using Cl-sensitive micro-electrodes and the uptake of 36Cl, was slowed about 3-fold by the nominal absence of CO2 and HCO3 and about 10-fold by the presence of the anion exchange inhibitor DIDS (4-4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulphonic acid). However, the usual level of intracellular Cl was eventually attained and neither condition reduced intracellular Cl in normal tissues. The loss of intracellular Cl that occurs when Cl- ions are removed from the extracellular solution was slowed about 3-fold by the nominal absence of CO2 and HCO3 and was accelerated by their readdition. DIDS slowed the fall in aiCl about 10-fold and reduced 36Cl efflux. Intracellular pH (pHi), measured using pH-sensitive micro-electrodes, increased by a mean of 0.73 units when Cl was removed from the superfusing solution in the presence of CO2 and HCO3, and rapidly decreased when Cl was readmitted. These changes are equivalent to an intracellular accumulation and loss of HCO3- ions respectively. The net transmembrane movement of HCO3- ions which would have caused these changes in pHi was calculated using the measured intracellular buffering power ( Aickin , 1984). 25% fewer HCO3- ions than Cl- ions were accumulated and lost and the HCO3 movement was completed 2-3 times faster than the simultaneous Cl movement under the same conditions. The changes in pHi induced by alteration of extracellular Cl were reduced by the nominal absence of CO2 and HCO3 and abolished by the presence of DIDS. The acidification recorded on readmission of Cl in the nominal absence of CO2 and HCO3 was compatible with a metabolic production of about 0.1% CO2. We conclude that Cl-HCO3 exchange plays a major role in the regulation of intracellular Cl. The exchange carrier is reversible, is completely inhibited by DIDS, and accounts for about 75% of the net Cl movement that occurs when Cl is removed from or readmitted to the extracellular solution. The mechanism which is responsible for the remaining Cl movement remains to be elucidated.