Gentamicin-induced alterations in pig kidney epithelial (LLC-PK1) cells in culture

The effect of gentamicin exposure was investigated in LLC-PK1 cells in culture. Gentamicin (0.5-2.0 mM) was added to the medium of cells which had been grown to confluency in the absence of antibiotics and antimycotics. Exposure to gentamicin (1-4 days) did not effect total cellular protein or DNA levels, total cell number or the release of various marker enzymes to the medium. ATP levels in gentamicin-treated cells did not differ from control cells; however, medium from the gentamicin-treated cells contained significantly lower lactic acid levels. Morphological examination by electron microscopy revealed gentamicin-elicited myeloid body formation. Furthermore, total phospholipid level was elevated markedly in gentamicin-treated cells. Analysis of specific phospholipid classes showed only phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylinositol and polyphosphoinositide phospholipid levels increased in a time-dependent manner. Phosphatidylinositol showed the highest percentage of increase. Raising the normal medium calcium concentration (0.2 mg/ml) 1.5-, 2.0- or 3.0-fold did not alter gentamicin-induced elevation in cellular phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylcholine. Gentamicin exposure also resulted in a concentration-dependent increase in the turnover of LLC-PK1 cell-free fatty acids, monoglyceride, diglyceride and nonesterified cholesterol and a decrease in triglyceride turnover. Calcium transport into and through the cell monolayer was inhibited markedly by gentamicin despite the fact that 45Ca++ binding to gentamicin-treated cells was greater. These results demonstrate that manifestations of gentamicin toxicity in LLC-PK1 cells parallel those reported in the whole animal thus making the LLC-PK1 cell in culture a valid system for elucidating the mechanism of gentamicin-elicited alterations in renal epithelium.     

Mechanisms of gentamicin transport in kidney epithelial cell line (LLC-PK1)

The characteristics of gentamicin transport have been studied by using cultured kidney epithelial cell line LLC-PK1. The uptake of gentamicin by the LLC-PK1 cells appeared to be linear for 30 min and reached the equilibrium at day 1. Marked stimulation of gentamicin uptake was observed on the development of a confluent cell density, accompanied by the increases of marker enzyme activities and Na+-dependent D-glucose transport in the apical membranes. Gentamicin uptake was inhibited by metabolic inhibitors such as rotenone and 2,4-dinitrophenol, and was inhibited competitively in the presence of other aminoglycosides. Depending on the external calcium concentration, calcium ionophore A23187 stimulated gentamicin uptake, whereas ethylene glycol bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)N,N1-tetraacetic acid, a calcium chelator, inhibited gentamicin uptake. These results suggest that gentamicin uptake by the LLC-PK1 cells may be mediated via specialized transport system, and calcium ion movement may play an important role as a regulatory factor for this transport system.     

Transport of cyclosporin A in kidney epithelial cell line (LLC-PK1)

The characteristics of cyclosporin A transport have been studied in cultured kidney epithelial cell line LLC-PK1. The uptake of cyclosporin A by LLC-PK1 cells was time-dependent and reached a steady state at about 30 min. The initial uptake was saturable and was inhibited by cyclosporin A analogs, cyclosporin C and D and by verapamil, but not by metabolic inhibitors such as 2,4-dinitrophenol and rotenone. Cyclosporin A uptake as well as efflux was strongly dependent on temperature. The Arrhenius plot for cyclosporin A uptake was biphasic, whereas the Arrhenius plot for sulfanilamide uptake, which is transported by a simple diffusion, was linear. These results indicate that a specific mechanism is concerned in the transport of cyclosporin A in LLC-PK1, cells.     

Endothelin increases cyclic GMP levels in LLC-PK1 porcine kidney epithelial cells via formation of an endothelium-derived relaxing factor-like substance.

The effect of endothelin (ET) on cyclic GMP levels in cultured porcine kidney epithelial cells, LLC-PK1, was investigated. ET-1 or ET-3, but not big ET-1 or ET C-terminal hexapeptide 16-21, elevated cyclic GMP levels in a concentration-dependent manner with an EC50 value of about 5 x 10(-10) M. This effect of ET-1 was enhanced with superoxide dismutase, diminished with oxyhemoglobin, inhibited with methylene blue, totally dependent on extracellular calcium and unaffected by indomethacin. L-Arginine derivatives, NG-methyl-L-arginine and NG-nitro-L-arginine also inhibited cyclic GMP responses to 10(-8) M ET-1 with IC50 values of 1.2 x 10(-6) M and 7.6 x 10(-8) M, respectively, and the inhibition was prevented with L-arginine. These data strongly suggest that ET-1 stimulates formation of an endothelium-derived relaxing factor-like substance from L-arginine or a related endogenous material(s) in a Ca(++)-dependent fashion, which in turn activates soluble guanylate cyclase to elevate cellular cyclic GMP levels. The concentrations required for these effects were 10 times lower than those required for atrial natriuretic factor. Thus, the effects of ET on cyclic GMP accumulation may be related to the natriuretic effects of ET in vivo.     

Fenoldopam is a partial agonist at dopamine-1 (DA1) receptors in LLC-PK1 cells.

Fenoldopam [6-chloro-7,8-dihydroxy-1-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-2, 3,4,5-tetrahydro-(1H)-3-benzazepine] is a selective dopamine-1 (DA1) agonist with natriuretic/diuretic properties. A component of the natriuretic response to fenoldopam may involve direct DA1 receptor-mediated effects on proximal tubule sodium reabsorption, possibly through stimulation of adenylyl cyclase. Here, we compared the effects of fenoldopam and DA in stimulating cyclic AMP (cAMP) synthesis in LLC-PK1 cells, a renal epithelial cell line that has proximal tubule-like properties and expresses a DA1 receptor linked to stimulation of adenylyl cyclase. Fenoldopam stimulated cAMP accumulation in LLC-PK1 cells in a dose-dependent manner, an effect which could be blocked by the DA1-selective antagonist Sch 23390. Although fenoldopam was more potent than DA (EC50 55.5 +/- 7.75 nM vs. 1.65 +/- 0.64 microM) in stimulating cAMP accumulation in LLC-PK1 cells, the maximum stimulation obtained by fenoldopam was only 37% of the maximum stimulation obtained by DA(Emax 13.0 +/- 2.95 pmol/mg of protein vs. 35.6 +/- 10.19 pmol/mg of protein). Simultaneous incubation of DA and fenoldopam resulted in lower cAMP levels than with DA alone. Incubation of DA with increasing concentrations of fenoldopam produced parallel rightward shifts in the DA dose-response curves. Schild analysis further indicated that fenoldopam acted as a competitive antagonist in the presence of DA, with a pA2 value of 7.38 and a slope of unity. These results indicate that fenoldopam is a partial agonist with low efficacy at DA1 receptors linked to cAMP generation in the LLC-PK1 cells.     

Pig kidney (LLC-PK1) cell membrane fluidity during exposure to gentamicin or tobramycin.

The surface membrane properties of LLC-PK1 cells grown with and without various amounts of gentamicin or tobramycin for various lengths of time were determined by measuring the diffusion coefficient of N-(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl)dipalmitoyl-L- alpha-phosphatidylethanolamine (NBD-PE) and the percentage of NBD-PE free to diffuse after photobleaching. One hour of exposure to tobramycin decreased the percentage that was free to diffuse. After 1 day or longer of exposure to either aminoglycoside the percentage that was free to diffuse returned to preexposure levels and the diffusion coefficient decreased.     

Stimulation by leukotriene D4 of increases in the cytosolic concentration of calcium in dimethylsulfoxide-differentiated HL-60 cells.

The C6-sulfidopeptide leukotrienes C4 (LTC4) and D4 (LTD4) evoked increases in the cytosolic concentration of intracellular calcium ([Ca+2]i) in dimethylsulfoxide-differentiated HL-60 cells, as assessed by the fluorescence of quin-2. The increases in [Ca+2]i reached a peak within 15-90 s, attained 50% of the maximum level at 1.2 nM LTD4 and 60 nM LTC4, were greater in maximal magnitude for LTD4 than LTC4, and subsided in 5-7 min. Flow cytometric evaluation of the LTD4-induced increases in [Ca+2]i, reflected in increases in the fluorescence of intracellular indo-1, revealed that a mean of 77% of differentiated HL-60 cells responded, as contrasted with lesser increases in only 50% of undifferentiated HL-60 cells. The capacity of pretreatment of HL-60 cells with LTD4 to prevent subsequent responses of [Ca+2]i to LTC4 and LTD4, and the finding that the serine-borate inhibitor of conversion of LTC4 to LTD4 suppressed concurrently both LTC4-induced rises in [Ca+2]i and increases in adherence to Sephadex G-25 indicated that the responses of HL-60 cells to LTC4 required conversion to LTD4. That pertussis toxin and a chemical antagonist of LTD4 reduced the [Ca+2]i response suggested a dependence on LTD4 receptors. The LTD4-induced increases in [Ca+2]i were dependent on extracellular calcium and diminished by lanthanum, but not affected by nifedipine nor associated with changes in membrane potential, as measured with the fluorescent probe 3,3'-dipentyloxacarbocyanine. Thus, the increase in [Ca+2]i in HL-60 cells, which is coupled to an increase in adherence, appears to involve LTD4 receptor-specific and voltage-independent calcium channels in the plasma membrane.     

W-7 induces [Ca(2+)](i) increases in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells

The effect of W-7 [N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulfonamide hydrochloride] on Ca(2+) signaling in Madin-Darby canine kidney cells was investigated. W-7 (0.1-1 mM) induced a [Ca(2+)](i) increase, which comprised an initial increase and a plateau. Ca(2+) removal inhibited the Ca(2+) signals by 80%, suggesting that W-7 activated external Ca(2+) influx and internal Ca(2+) release. Pretreatment with the mitochondrial uncoupler carbonylcyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (2 microM) and the endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) pump inhibitor thapsigargin (1 microM) abolished the internal Ca(2+) release induced by 0.5 mM W-7; conversely, pretreatment with W-7 prevented thapsigargin and carbonylcyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone from releasing internal Ca(2+). W-7 (0.2 mM) induced Mn(2+) quench of fura-2 fluorescence, which was inhibited by La(3+) (0.1 mM) by 80%. La(3+) (0.1 mM) partly inhibited 0.2 mM W-7-induced [Ca(2+)](i) increase. Addition of 5 mM Ca(2+) induced a significant [Ca(2+)](i) increase after pretreating with 0.2 to 1 mM W-7 in Ca(2+)-free medium for 5 min, suggesting that W-7 induced capacitative Ca(2+) entry. W-7 (0.5 mM) potentiated the capacitative Ca(2+) entry induced by 1 microM thapsigargin by 15%. Pretreatment with aristolochic acid (40 microM) to inhibit phospholipase A(2) reduced 0.5 mM W-7-induced internal Ca(2+) release and external Ca(2+) influx by 25 and 80%, respectively. Inhibition of phospholipase C with U73122 (2 microM) or inhibition of phospholipase D with propranolol (0.1 mM) had no effect on the internal Ca(2+) release induced by 0.5 mM W-7. It remains unclear whether W-7 induced [Ca(2+)](i) increases via inhibition of calmodulin. Three other calmodulin inhibitors (phenoxybenzamine, trifluoperazine, and fluphenazine-N-chloroethane) did not alter resting [Ca(2+)](i).     

Transport of organic cations by kidney epithelial cell line LLC-PK1

Transport of two organic cations, N1-methylnicotinamide (NMN) and tetraethylammonium (TEA), was investigated in LLC-PK1 cells grown on Transwell collagen coated Nuclepore filters. Two min NMN or TEA unidirectional transepithelial flux and simultaneous cellular uptake were measured. Transport of NMN and TEA from basolateral to apical side was temperature-dependent, saturable and competitively inhibited by each other or by mepiperphenidol. NMN and TEA transport from the apical to the basolateral side was very slow, only slightly faster than that of mannitol. Apparent kinetic parameters of basolateral to apical transcellular flux were measured. For NMN apparent Km = 133.6 +/- 35.4 microM, Vmax = 48.3 +/- 5.6 pmol/cm2.2 min. For TEA apparent Km = 11.4 +/- 2.2 microM, Vmax = 42.1 +/- 1.8 pmol/cm2.2 min. Kinetic parameters of cellular uptake were also estimated. For NMN apparent Km = 436.9 +/- 139.8 microM, Vmax = 143.7 +/- 30.5 pmol/micrograms DNA. For TEA apparent Km = 50.3 +/- 7.2 microM, Vmax = 26.5 +/- 2.5 pmol/micrograms DNA. It is concluded that LLC-PK1 cells transport NMN and TEA from the basolateral to the apical side; this flux corresponds to the secretory transport of the renal proximal tubule. NMN and TEA share the same transport system, but NMN has a lower affinity.     

Aminoglycoside-induced increase of intracellular calcium in LLC-PK1 cells due to an artifact caused by trypsin and EDTA.

Dietary calcium supplements attenuate experimental aminoglycoside nephrotoxicity. In cultured renal tubular cells, intracellular calcium levels have been reported to rise with aminoglycoside addition to the culture medium. In experiments designed to verify the in vitro influence of calcium on cultured kidney cells, we detected an unexpected artifact. When we resuspended cultured LLC-PK1 cells with trypsin and EDTA to measure intracellular calcium levels, our results correlated well with previously reported values. However, we saw no increase in intracellular calcium levels when we measured them by digital imaging video microscopy unless trypsin-EDTA exposure preceded aminoglycoside exposure. This apparent artifact should be considered in any study of the effects of various agents on intracellular calcium levels.     

Transport of salicylic acid through monolayers of a kidney epithelial cell line (LLC-PK1).

LLC-PK1 cells were used as a model of renal proximal epithelium to study the nonionic diffusion of salicylic acid (SAL). The apparent [14C]SAL transcellular permeability (PSal) and intracellular content were estimated at 20-21 degrees C from fluxes measured across cell monolayers grown on filters, in both apical-to-basolateral and basolateral-to-apical directions. The medium pH of the cis-side was varied from 6.0 to 7.4, and the medium pH of the trans-side was kept at 7.4. In the apical-to-basolateral direction, PSal increased linearly with the calculated concentration of nonionized SAL, indicating that SAL permeability was essentially the result of nonionic diffusion. In the basolateral-to-apical direction, PSal was about 2.5-fold higher than in the apical-to-basolateral direction and was not linearly related to the concentration of nonionized SAL molecules (0-4.5 nM), suggesting that besides nonionic diffusion, SAL was transported in its ionized form by a facilitated mechanism still active at 21 degrees C. This was confirmed by measuring basolateral-to-apical fluxes at 37 degrees C and observing that probenecid, an inhibitor of organic anion secretion, and cold SAL decreased PSal. Interestingly, at 37 degrees C, PSal in the apical-to-basolateral direction was also decreased by probenecid and cold SAL, suggesting the existence of a facilitated transport in this direction. These data demonstrated that the secretory transport of SAL is present in LLC-PK1 cells. The facilitated transport observed in the apical-to-basolateral direction suggests that in proximal tubule, SAL reabsorption might occur by facilitated mechanism and nonionic diffusion.     

Handling of digoxin and ouabain by renal tubular cells (LLC-PK1).

Digoxin is known to be secreted by renal tubular cells, but the mechanisms are still not fully understood. In this study, we examined renal tubular cell handling of digoxin and ouabain using LLC-PK1 cells, a model of proximal renal tubular cells. The cells were used in suspension for binding experiments and in monolayers on permeable filters for transport studies. The specific binding of digoxin to the cells, presumably to the ouabain binding site (i.e., membrane Na+,K(+)-ATPase), were characterized by Kd of 2.6 x 10(-7) M and Bmax (total number of specific binding sites) of 1.6 x 10(6)/cell. Kd and Bmax of ouabain binding were 1.3 x 10(-7) M and 1.9 x 10(6)/cell, respectively. In transport experiments, digoxin showed significantly higher flux than ouabain from the basolateral to the apical side across the cell monolayers. Importantly, this secretory transport was not inhibited by ouabain concentrations sufficient to block membrane Na+,K(+)-ATPase and to displace digoxin from the binding site on the enzyme (i.e., 10(-6) to 10(-4) M ouabain). However, the digoxin secretion was decreased by low temperature or excess digoxin in a concentration-dependent manner. These data suggest that digoxin undergoes unidirectional transport in favor of secretion, which does not involve its binding to the ouabain binding sites on membrane Na+,K(+)-ATPase.     

Zinc stimulates DNA synthesis during its antiapoptotic action independently with increments of an antiapoptotic protein, Bcl-2, in porcine kidney LLC-PK(1) cells.

Cadmium, an environmental pollutant, caused nephroptosis that was inhibitable by zinc. The mechanism of the antiapoptotic action of zinc is poorly understood. In this study, we found the stimulation of DNA synthesis, as assessed by bromodeoxyuridine incorporation, during prevention by zinc of apoptosis, suggesting that the proliferactive nature of zinc contributes to its inhibition of apoptosis. This finding was consistent with the result that the cells driven by dialyzed fetal bovine serum were resistant to apoptotic stimuli of cadmium. Furthermore, zinc activated the expression of endogenous Bcl-2 proteins. However, overexpression of Bcl-2 proteins by transfection did not facilitate zinc-mediated DNA synthesis. Thus, one possible role of zinc in the prevention of apoptosis is to promote DNA synthesis independently with activation of antiapoptotic proteins Bcl-2.     

Surface binding and intracellular uptake of gentamicin in the cultured kidney epithelial cell line (LLC-PK1).

Aminoglycoside antibiotics such as gentamicin are taken up by renal proximal tubular cells, yet little is known regarding the biochemical characteristics of the transport process at the cellular level. In this report, cellular handling of gentamicin was studied in the cultured kidney epithelial cell line LLC-PK1. After 2 days of incubation of the cells with gentamicin, cell-associated gentamicin decreased rapidly during the first 30 min when the cells were incubated in gentamicin-free medium, then decreased slowly. The apparent half-life of the latter phase, which should represent release from the intracellular compartment, was about 2.0 days. The rapid release of gentamicin should consist of two components, one is a release from the cell surface membrane and the other from domes. Cell surface binding of gentamicin was dependent on the ambient ionic strength. The intracellular uptake was inhibited by low temperature, neomycin, metabolic inhibitors and reagents which interact with the cytoskeleton. On the other hand, the uptake was not affected by d-glucose, organic cations and an organic anion. Thus, by estimating the intracellular gentamicin separately from the drug localized in other compartments, it is concluded that gentamicin is taken up by LLC-PK1 cells via an adsorptive endocytosis. The endocytosis of gentamicin should be dependent on metabolic energy and cytoskeletal function.     

Transport of digoxin by human P-glycoprotein expressed in a porcine kidney epithelial cell line (LLC-PK1).

This article represents the first evidence that the renal secretion of the commonly used drug, digoxin, is mediated by P-glycoprotein. In this study, it was demonstrated that digoxin is a substrate of P-glycoprotein, and the mechanism of a clinically important drug interaction, such as digoxin-quinidine, was elucidated. Human P-glycoprotein was expressed on the apical membrane of the porcine kidney epithelial cell line, LLC-PK1 by transfecting with human MDR1 cDNA. The expression and function of P-glycoprotein were confirmed by Southern and Western blotting, RNase protection assay, immunostaining and transporting activity for vinblastine. The transepithelial transport of [3H]digoxin was measured across the cell monolayers grown on microporous polycarbonate membrane filters. The transfectant cells exhibited markedly greater basal-to-apical transport and less apical-to-basal transport than the host cells, and the former was 8-fold greater than the latter. The augmented transepithelial transport resulted from the increased efflux from cells to apical side. This oriented transport was inhibited by the presence of 20 microM vinblastine, quinidine or verapamil. The rate of efflux to the apical side was 2-fold greater than that to the basal side. Quinidine inhibited the efflux to the apical side but did not affect transport into the basal side. These findings demonstrate that digoxin is transported by human P-glycoprotein, which is a previously undiscovered drug transport system in the kidney other than organic cation and anion transport systems, and suggest a molecular mechanism for the renal tubular secretion of digoxin as well as clinically important digoxin-quinidine interaction via P-glycoprotein.     

Activation of neurokinin-1 receptors increases the excitability of Guinea pig dorsal root ganglion cells

The suppression of overactive bladder symptoms in patients and overactive bladder reflexes in animal models by neurokinin (NK)-1 receptor antagonists raises the possibility that these drugs target sensory neurons. This mechanism was evaluated by examining the interactions between a specific NK-1 agonist, [Sar(9),Met(O(2))(11)]-substance P (Sar-Met-SP), and a potent NK-1 antagonist, netupitant (NTP), on small size (20-30 μm) dissociated L6 and S1 dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons from female guinea pigs. Current-clamp recording revealed that Sar-Met-SP (1 μM) elicited membrane depolarization (average 8.05 ± 1.38 mV) in 27% (18 of 65) of DRG neurons. In 74% of the remaining neurons (35 of 47) Sar-Met-SP decreased the rheobase for action potential (AP) generation and increased the response to a suprathreshold stimulus (3 times rheobase) without changing the membrane potential. Sar-Met-SP also induced changes in the action potential (AP) wave form, including 1) an increase in overshoot (average 5 mV, n = 35 neurons), 2) a prolongation of AP duration (from 4.64 to 5.29 ms, n = 34), and 3) a reduction in the maximal rate of AP repolarization. NTP (200 nM) reversed the Sar-Met-SP-induced changes. Ca(2+) imaging showed that application of Sar-Met-SP (1 μM) decreased the tachyphylaxis induced by repeated application of capsaicin (0.5 μM), an effect blocked by pretreatment with NTP (200 nM). These results raise the possibility that activation of NK-1 receptors in primary sensory neurons plays a role in the generation of overactive bladder and that block of NK-1 receptors in these neurons may contribute to efficacy of NK-1 antagonists in the treatment of overactive bladder symptoms.     

Pathways and regulation of ammoniagenesis by the LLC-PK1 cells in culture

LLC-PK1 kidney epithelial cells grown under the condition of continuous rocking exhibit a variety of differentiated functions of proximal tubular epithelium, including pH-modulated ammoniagenesis. To further determine their value as a model system, we investigated the pathways of ammoniagenesis under both normal conditions and acid-base manipulations. Pulse-chase studies with carbon 14-labeled glutamine demonstrated a marked delay in glutamine conversion to glutamate, indicating that glutamine deamidation is a critical rate-limiting step, and also provided evidence for metabolism of the glutamine carbon skeleton by the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Ammonia and alanine were the predominant nitrogen metabolites of glutamine at all pH conditions, and the stoichiometry suggested that glutamate is metabolized through both glutamate dehydrogenase and glutamate transaminase at pH 7.4. Increased ammonia production in response to a low pH was associated with increased flux through phosphate-dependent glutaminase and the glutamate transamination pathway and was accompanied by a fall in intracellular glutamate and alpha-ketoglutarate concentrations, which was similar to events in the intact kidney. Studies with the inhibitors acivicin and amino oxyacetate suggested that the gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase and glutamine transamination pathways are inconsequential in LLC-PK1 cells. The phosphate-dependent glutaminase pathway appears to play a predominant role in the regulation of ammoniagenesis. The similarity in ammonia metabolism with other in vitro and in vivo models suggests that LLC-PK1 cells will be a useful system for investigating renal ammoniagenesis and the intracellular signals that modulate this process.     

Engagement of human PECAM-1 (CD31) on human endothelial cells increases intracellular calcium ion concentration and stimulates prostacyclin release.

Platelet-endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1) is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily that plays a role in a number of endothelial cell (EC) functions including migration, angiogenesis, and transmigration of leukocytes across endothelium. We postulated that one way PECAM-1 might exert its effects was by regulating intracellular EC levels of calcium. Using single-cell fluorometry, we found that engagement of PECAM-1 by mAbs induced a slow but sustained increase in intracellular calcium, both in EC and in an adherent PECAM-1-transfected cell line that models endothelium. Generation of this signal was specific for certain anti-PECAM-1 antibodies, required the presence of the cytoplasmic domain, depended on extracellular calcium and on tyrosine phosphorylation, but did not require cross-linking; in fact, calcium increases were stimulated by certain Fab fragments. Activation of EC by PECAM-1 also caused a time-dependent increase in prostacyclin release. Given the importance of intracellular calcium and prostacyclin release as signaling molecules, engagement of PECAM-1 during cell-cell interactions may alter a number of EC functions including secretion of vasoactive mediators.     

Functional characterization of rat organic anion transporter 2 in LLC-PK1 cells

Rat organic anion transporter 2 (rOat2) is abundantly expressed in the liver and localized to the basolateral membrane. A previous study using the Xenopus laevis oocyte expression system has shown that rOat2 transports organic anions such as salicylate () and, in the present study, rOat2 was characterized using a mammalian expression system. In addition to the substrates previously shown to be transported by rOat2, three substrates, indomethacin [IDM, Michaelis-Menten constant (K(m)) of 0.37 microM] and nucleoside derivatives such as 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT, K(m) of 26 microM) and 2',3'-dideoxycytidine (ddC, K(m) of 3.08 mM), were also identified for the first time The rank order of rOat2-mediated transport of these substrates was IDM > salicylate > prostaglandin E(2) > AZT > ddC > p-aminohippurate (PAH). Ketoprofen, indocyanine green and glibenclamide are potent inhibitors of the uptake of [(14)C]salicylate via rOat2 (K(i) of approximately 12 microM), while diclofenac, benzoate, verapamil, ibuprofen, and tolbutamide are moderate inhibitors (K(i) of approximately 150 microM). The affinity of PAH, a common substrate for the OAT family, for rOat2 is low (K(i) > 1 mM) compared with the other members of the OAT family (rOat1 and rOat3). Salicylate and IDM are also substrates for rOat1, but their affinity for rOat2 was higher than that for rOat1. The present study shows that rOat2 is a multispecific transporter and suggests that it may be involved at least partly, in the hepatic uptake of IDM, salicylate and nucleoside derivatives.     

Effect of aminoglycoside antibiotics on cellular functions of kidney epithelial cell line (LLC-PK1): a model system for aminoglycoside nephrotoxicity

The effects of aminoglycoside antibiotics on cellular functions of the LLC-PK1 kidney epithelial cell line were studied as a model system for aminoglycoside nephrotoxicity. The treatment with aminoglycoside antibiotics for 3 days caused a decrease in the dome number in the confluent LLC-PK1 cells and an increase in the floating cells in the culture medium. The inhibition of dome formation was dose-dependent and the rank-order of the degree of inhibition was compatible with the rank-order of in vivo nephrotoxicity. Aminoglycosides also decreased the intracellular content of cyclic AMP, with a correlation between the alteration of dome formation and cyclic AMP content. The specific activities of N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (marker for lysosomes), aminopeptidase and alkaline phosphatase (marker for apical membranes) and (Na++K+)-adenosine triphosphatase (marker for basolateral membranes) in the homogenate were decreased by gentamicin treatment. Lysosomal and apical membrane enzymes released into the culture medium were increased by gentamicin treatment. The ultrastructural alterations in the lysosomes of gentamicin-treated cells also were observed. Above results suggest that aminoglycoside toxicity to LLC-PK1 cells may be similar to that reported for renal tubules.