The toxicity of H2O2 on the ionic homeostasis of airway epithelial cells in vitro

Oxygen species may be formed in the air spaces of the respiratory tract in response to environmental pollution such as particulate matter. The mechanisms and target molecules of these oxidants are still mainly unknown but may involve modifications of the ionic homeostasis in epithelial cells. Cytosolic concentrations of Ca²⁺ (Fura2) and Na⁺ (SBFI) and short-circuit current (Isc) were followed in primary cultures of human nasal epithelial cells and in the cell line 16HBE14o⁻ after exposure to H₂O₂ or ·OH (H₂O₂+Fe²⁺). Cells were grown on glass coverslips for ionic imaging or on permeable snapwell inserts for Isc studies. Exposure of the apical as well as the basal side of the cultures to H₂O₂ or ·OH induced a concentration-dependent transient increase in Isc which is due to a transient secretion of Cl⁻. Ca_i also increased transiently with approximately the same kinetics. The response was dependent on the release of calcium from intracellular stores. Na_i on the contrary increased steadily over more than an hour. When the apical membrane was permeabilized with gramicidin, ·OH inhibited the Na⁺ current (a measure of Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase activity in the baso-lateral membrane). The arrest of the pump was significant after 30 min exposure to oxidant. On the other hand no increase in the apical or baso-lateral sodium conductances could be detected. The progressive arrest of the Na⁺/K⁺-pump may contribute to the sustained elevation of Na_i. This strong modification in the cellular ionic homeostasis may participate in the stress response of the respiratory epithelium through alterations in signal transduction pathways.