The N terminus of α-ENaC mediates ENaC cleavage and activation by furin

Epithelial Na+ channels comprise three homologous subunits (α, β, and γ) that are regulated by alternative splicing and proteolytic cleavage. Here, we determine the basis of the reduced Na+ current (INa) that results from expression of a previously identified, naturally occurring splice variant of the a subunit (α-ENaC), in which residues 34-82 are deleted (αΔ34-82). αΔ34-82-ENaC expression with WT β and γ subunits in Xenopus oocytes produces reduced basal INa, which can largely be recovered by exogenous trypsin. With this αΔ34-82-containing ENaC, both α and γ subunits display decreased cleavage fragments, consistent with reduced processing by furin or furin-like convertases. Data using MTS ET modification of a cysteine, introduced into the degenerin locus in β-ENaC, suggest that the reduced INa of αΔ34-82-ENaC arises from an increased population of uncleaved, near-silent ENaC, rather than from a reduced open probability spread uniformly across all channels. After treatment with brefeldin A to disrupt anterograde trafficking of channel subunits, INa in oocytes expressing αΔ34-82-ENaC is reestablished more slowly than that in oocytes expressing WT ENaC. Overnight or acute incubation of oocytes expressing WT ENaC in the pore blocker amiloride increases basal ENaC proteolytic stimulation, consistent with relief of Na+ feedback inhibition. These responses are reduced in oocytes expressing αΔ34-82-ENaC. We conclude that the α-ENaC N terminus mediates interactions that govern the delivery of cleaved and uncleaved ENaC populations to the oocyte membrane

The cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator impedes proteolytic stimulation of the epithelial Na+ channel

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is caused by mutations in the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) that prevent its proper folding and trafficking to the apical membrane of epithelial cells. Absence of cAMP-mediated Cl- secretion in CF airways causes poorly hydrated airway surfaces in CF patients, and this condition is exacerbated by excessive Na+ absorption. The mechanistic link between missing CFTR and increased Na+ absorption in airway epithelia has remained elusive, although substantial evidence implicates hyperactivity of the epithelial Na+ channel (ENaC). ENaC is known to be activated by selective endoproteolysis of the extracellular domains of its α- and γ-subunits, and it was recently reported that ENaC and CFTR physically associate in mammalian cells. We confirmed this interaction in oocytes by co-immunoprecipitation and found that ENaC associated with wild-type CFTR was protected from proteolytic cleavage and stimulation of open probability. In contrast, ΔF508 CFTR, the most common mutant protein in CF patients, failed to protect ENaC from proteolytic cleavage and stimulation. In normal airway epithelial cells, ENaC was contained in the anti-CFTR immunoprecipitate. In CF airway epithelial cultures, the proportion of full-length to total α-ENaC protein signal was consistently reduced compared with normal cultures. Our results identify limiting proteolytic cleavage of ENaC as a mechanism by which CFTR down-regulates Na+ absorption

Effects of topically delivered benzamil and amiloride on nasal potential difference in cystic fibrosis

The raised nasal transepithelial potential difference (PD) in cystic fibrosis (CF) reflects accelerated active transport of Na+, and is inhibited by topical administration of the Na+ channel blocker, amiloride. The aim of this study was to investigate the dose-effect and time course of topically administered Na+ conductance inhibitors to inhibit nasal PD, including benzamil, an analog of amiloride. We measured the magnitude of drug inhibition of Na+ transport [percent inhibition of baseline PD (ΔPD%)] and duration of inhibition of PD, defined as the time when drug inhibition of PD had recovered by 50% (effective time = ET50). Amiloride [10-3 M (n = 16), 3 × 10-3 M (n = 9), 6 × 10-3 M (n = 7), 10-2 M (n = 3)] or benzamil [1.7 × 10-3 M (n = 7), and 7 × 10-3 M (n = 5)] were administered to the nasal surface via an aerosol generated by a jet nebulizer and a nasal mask. The concentration-dependent magnitude (ΔPD%) of inhibition was similar for amiloride and benzamil (∼67-77%), whereas the duration of inhibition (ET50) was about two-and-a-half times longer after benzamil administration as compared with equivalent concentrations of amiloride [1.6 ± 0.06 versus 4.5 ± 0.6 h (ET50 ± SEM), at 6-7 × 10-3 M]. In vitro studies of cultured normal nasal epithelia demonstrated directly that benzamil induced an approximately 2-fold more prolonged inhibition of active Na+ transport than amiloride. These data suggest aerosolized benzamil is a candidate long-duration Na+ channel blocker for CF

Local regulation of cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator and epithelial sodium channel in airway epithelium.

Regulation of cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR) and epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) in airway epithelia strongly influences the rate of mucociliary clearance (MCC) by determining the volume of airway surface liquid. MCC increases in response to stimuli originating on the airway surface, and CFTR and ENaC in airway epithelia appear to be regulated by local rather than systemic signaling. Although all signals that regulate CFTR and ENaC in airways have not been identified, the release of nucleotides from airway epithelial cells exposed to physical stimuli initiates a series of events that coordinately favor increased MCC. These events include activation of adenosine A2B receptors that stimulate CFTR and P2Y2 receptors that inhibit ENaC. Together these actions result in an increased volume of airway surface liquid and increased MCC rates. Stimulation of CFTR by A(2B)AR uses protein kinase (PK) A signaling elements that are localized within the apical/subapical compartment, including G proteins, adenylyl cyclase, PKA-II, A-kinase anchoring proteins, and phosphodiesterases. Inhibition of ENaC by P2Y2 receptors appears to be mediated by phospholipase C-beta3, possibly through an effect on the levels of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphonate in the apical membrane

Phosphodiesterase 4D forms a cAMP diffusion barrier at the apical membrane of the airway epithelium

We demonstrated previously that Calu-3 airway epithelial cells sense adenosine on their luminal surface through adenosine A2B receptors coupled to adenylyl cyclase. Occupancy of these receptors leads to activation of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) chloride channel through protein kinase A (PKA) anchored at the apical membrane. Because luminal A2B receptor activation does not raise total cellular cAMP levels, we hypothesized that activation of phosphodiesterases (PDEs) confines cAMP generated by apical A2B receptors to a microdomain that includes the CFTR channel. Using reverse transcription-PCR, Western blotting, and activity measurements, PDE4D was identified as the major PDE species in airway epithelia. Consistent with these results, inhibitors of PDE4, but not PDE3, selectively abolished the lateral confinement of cAMP signaling in apical membrane patches during cell-attached recordings. Furthermore, stimulation of the CFTR in excised apical patches by rolipram and RS25344 indicated that PDE4 is localized in close proximity to the CFTR channel. Indeed, immunohistochemistry of human airway sections revealed that PDE4D is localized in the apical domain of the cell. PBE4 was activated after luminal adenosine exposure in a PKA-dependent manner. Because PDE4 activity is positively regulated by PKA, our results support a model whereby the PDE diffusion barrier is proportional to the degree of receptor stimulation. These findings underscore the concept that subcellular localization of individual PDE isozymes is an important mechanism for confining cAMP signaling to functional domains within cells. © 2005 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc

Identification of SPLUNC1's ENaC-inhibitory domain yields novel strategies to treat sodium hyperabsorption in cystic fibrosis airways

Item does not contain fulltextThe epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) is responsible for Na+ and fluid absorption across colon, kidney, and airway epithelia. We have previously identified SPLUNC1 as an autocrine inhibitor of ENaC. We have now located the ENaC inhibitory domain of SPLUNC1 to SPLUNC1's N terminus, and a peptide corresponding to this domain, G22-A39, inhibited ENaC activity to a similar degree as full-length SPLUNC1 ( approximately 2.5 fold). However, G22-A39 had no effect on the structurally related acid-sensing ion channels, indicating specificity for ENaC. G22-A39 preferentially bound to the beta-ENaC subunit in a glycosylation-dependent manner. ENaC hyperactivity is contributory to cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease. Addition of G22-A39 to CF human bronchial epithelial cultures (HBECs) resulted in an increase in airway surface liquid height from 4.2+/-0.6 to 7.9+/-0.6 mum, comparable to heights seen in normal HBECs, even in the presence of neutrophil elastase. Our data also indicate that the ENaC inhibitory domain of SPLUNC1 may be cleaved away from the main molecule by neutrophil elastase, which suggests that it may still be active during inflammation or neutrophilia. Furthermore, the robust inhibition of ENaC by the G22-A39 peptide suggests that this peptide may be suitable for treating CF lung disease