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Long-standing experimental evidence suggests that epithelial cells in the renal tubule are able to sense osmotic and pressure gradients caused by alterations in ultrafiltrate flow by elevating intracellular Ca2+ concentration. These responses are viewed as critical regulators of a variety of processes ranging from transport of water and solutes to cellular growth and differentiation. A loss in the ability to sense mechanical stimuli has been implicated in numerous pathologies associated with systemic imbalance of electrolytes and to the development of polycystic kidney disease. The molecular mechanisms conferring mechanosensitive properties to epithelial tubular cells involve activation of transient receptor potential (TRP) channels, such as TRPV4, allowing direct Ca2+ influx to increase intracellular Ca2+ concentration. In this review, we critically analyze the current evidence about signaling determinants of TRPV4 activation by luminal flow in the distal nephron and discuss how dysfunction of this mechanism contributes to the progression of polycystic kidney disease. We also review the physiological relevance of TRPV4-based mechanosensitivity in controlling flow-dependent K+ secretion in the distal renal tubule. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have documented recently that bradykinin (BK) directly inhibits activity of the epithelial Na(+) channel (ENaC) via the bradykinin B2 receptor (B2R)-G(q/11)-phospholipase C pathway. In this study, we took advantage of mice genetically engineered to lack bradykinin receptors (B1R, B2R(-/-)) to probe a physiological role of BK cascade in regulation of ENaC in native tissue, aldosterone-sensitive distal nephron. Under normal sodium intake (0.32% Na(+)), ENaC open probability (P(o)) was modestly elevated in B1R, B2R(-/-) mice compared with wild-type mice. This difference is augmented during elevated Na(+) intake (2.00% Na(+)) and negated during Na(+) restriction (<0.01% Na(+)). Saturation of systemic mineralocorticoid status with deoxycorticosterone acetate similarly increased ENaC activity in both mouse strains, suggesting that the effect of BK on ENaC is independent of aldosterone. It is accepted that angiotensin-converting enzyme represents the major pathway of BK degradation. Systemic inhibition of angiotensin-converting enzyme with captopril (30 mg/kg of body weight for 7 days) significantly decreases ENaC activity and P(o) in wild-type mice, but this effect is diminished in B1R, B2R(-/-) mice. At the cellular level, acute captopril (100 μmol/L) treatment sensitized BK signaling cascade and greatly potentiated the inhibitory effect of 100 nmol/L of BK on ENaC. We concluded that BK cascade has its own specific role in blunting ENaC activity, particularly under conditions of elevated sodium intake. Augmentation of BK signaling in the aldosterone-sensitive distal nephron inhibits ENaC-mediated Na(+) reabsorption, contributing to the natriuretic and antihypertensive effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To identify the mechanisms of P2X3 receptor inhibition by extracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) in rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurones. Methods: Whole-cell currents were measured in cultured DRG neurones using the combination of voltage and concentration clamp. Results: We have found that extracellular cAMP inhibits P2X3-mediated currents in a concentration- and use-dependent manner. The P2X3 currents, activated by ATP applied every 4 min, were inhibited by 55% in the presence of 10 μm cAMP and by 81% in the presence of 30 μm cAMP. At 8 min interval between ATP applications the same concentration of cAMP did not alter the currents. Addition of 0.5 mm of guanosine 5′- O-(2-thiodiphosphate) to intracellular solution blocked the inhibitory action of cAMP. The inhibitory effects of cAMP were not mimicked by extracellular application of 30 μm adenosine. Conclusions: In this paper, we demonstrate, for the first time, that extracellular application of cAMP to rat sensory neurones inhibits P2X3 receptors via a G protein-coupled mechanism in a use-dependent manner, thus indicating the neuronal expression of specific plasmalemmal cAMP receptor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]