Jennifer Baraka-Vidot, María Chávez-Canales, Régine Chambrey, Juliette Hadchouel, Alexia Pillot, Maximilien Jayat, Yusuke Kumai, Karen I. López-Cayuqueo, Christelle Soukaseum, Dominique Eladari, Xavier Jeunemaitre, Francesco Trepiccione, Véronique Baudrie, Cara Büsst, Pascal Houillier, Paris-Centre de Recherche Cardiovasculaire (PARCC - UMR-S U970), Université Paris Descartes - Paris 5 (UPD5)-Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou [APHP] (HEGP), Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris Ouest - Hôpitaux Universitaires Île de France Ouest (HUPO)-Assistance publique - Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP) (APHP)-Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris Ouest - Hôpitaux Universitaires Île de France Ouest (HUPO)-Assistance publique - Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP) (APHP)-Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Unité des maladies rénales et métaboliques [Hôpital Européen Georges-Pompidou - APHP], Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou [APHP] (HEGP), Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris Ouest - Hôpitaux Universitaires Île de France Ouest (HUPO)-Assistance publique - Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP) (APHP)-Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris Ouest - Hôpitaux Universitaires Île de France Ouest (HUPO)-Assistance publique - Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP) (APHP), Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers (CRC (UMR_S 872)), Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6 (UPMC)-Université Paris Descartes - Paris 5 (UPD5)-Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Groupe d'Etude sur l'Inflammation Chronique et l'Obésité (GEICO), Université de La Réunion (UR), University of Edinburgh, López-Cayuqueo, Karen I, Chavez-Canales, Maria, Pillot, Alexia, Houillier, Pascal, Jayat, Maximilien, Baraka-Vidot, Jennifer, Trepiccione, Francesco, Baudrie, Véronique, Büsst, Cara, Soukaseum, Christelle, Kumai, Yusuke, Jeunemaître, Xavier, Hadchouel, Juliette, Eladari, Dominique, Chambrey, Régine, Université Paris Descartes - Paris 5 (UPD5)-Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)-Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou [APHP] (HEGP), Assistance publique - Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP) (AP-HP)-Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris Ouest - Hôpitaux Universitaires Île de France Ouest (HUPO)-Assistance publique - Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP) (AP-HP)-Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris Ouest - Hôpitaux Universitaires Île de France Ouest (HUPO), and Université Paris Descartes - Paris 5 (UPD5)-Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6 (UPMC)-Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
Pseudohypoaldosteronism type II (PHAII) is a genetic disease characterized by association of hyperkalemia, hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis, hypertension, low renin, and high sensitivity to thiazide diuretics. It is caused by mutations in the WNK1, WNK4, KLHL3 or CUL3 gene. There is strong evidence that excessive sodium chloride reabsorption by the sodium chloride cotransporter NCC in the distal convoluted tubule is involved. WNK4 is expressed not only in distal convoluted tubule cells but also in β-intercalated cells of the cortical collecting duct. These latter cells exchange intracellular bicarbonate for external chloride through pendrin, and therefore, account for renal base excretion. However, these cells can also mediate thiazide-sensitive sodium chloride absorption when the pendrin-dependent apical chloride influx is coupled to apical sodium influx by the sodium-driven chloride/bicarbonate exchanger. Here we determine whether this system is involved in the pathogenesis of PHAII. Renal pendrin activity was markedly increased in a mouse model carrying a WNK4 missense mutation (Q562E) previously identified in patients with PHAII. The upregulation of pendrin led to an increase in thiazide-sensitive sodium chloride absorption by the cortical collecting duct, and it caused metabolic acidosis. The function of apical potassium channels was altered in this model, and hyperkalemia was fully corrected by pendrin genetic ablation. Thus, we demonstrate an important contribution of pendrin in renal regulation of sodium chloride, potassium and acid-base homeostasis and in the pathophysiology of PHAII. Furthermore, we identify renal distal bicarbonate secretion as a novel mechanism of renal tubular acidosis. Pseudohypoaldosteronism type II (PHAII) is a genetic disease characterized by association of hyperkalemia, hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis, hypertension, low renin, and high sensitivity to thiazide diuretics. It is caused by mutations in the WNK1, WNK4, KLHL3 or CUL3 gene. There is strong evidence that excessive sodium chloride reabsorption by the sodium chloride cotransporter NCC in the distal convoluted tubule is involved. WNK4 is expressed not only in distal convoluted tubule cells but also in beta-intercalated cells of the cortical collecting duct. These latter cells exchange intracellular bicarbonate for external chloride through pendrin, and therefore, account for renal base excretion. However, these cells can also mediate thiazide-sensitive sodium chloride absorption when the pendrin-dependent apical chloride influx is coupled to apical sodium influx by the sodium-driven chloride/bicarbonate exchanger. Here we determine whether this system is involved in the pathogenesis of PHAII. Renal pendrin activity was markedly increased in a mouse model carrying a WNK4 missense mutation (Q562E) previously identified in patients with PHAII. The upregulation of pendrin led to an increase in thiazide-sensitive sodium chloride absorption by the cortical collecting duct, and it caused metabolic acidosis. The function of apical potassium channels was altered in this model, and hyperkalemia was fully corrected by pendrin genetic ablation. Thus, we demonstrate an important contribution of pendrin in renal regulation of sodium chloride, potassium and acid-base homeostasis and in the pathophysiology of PHAII. Furthermore, we identify renal distal bicarbonate secretion as a novel mechanism of renal tubular acidosis.