The rat liver ecto-ATPase is also a canalicular bile acid transport protein

A approximately 110-kDa glycoprotein purified from canalicular vesicles by bile acid affinity chromatography has been identified as the canalicular bile acid transport protein. Internal amino acid sequence and chemical and immunochemical characteristics of this protein were found to be identical to a rat liver canalicular ecto-ATPase. In order to definitively determine whether these were two activities of a single polypeptide, we examined the possibility that transfection of cDNA for the ecto-ATPase would confer bile acid transport characteristics, as well as ecto-ATPase activity, on heterologous cells. The results show that transfection of the ecto-ATPase cDNA conferred on COS cells de novo synthesis of a approximately 110-kDa polypeptide, as immunoprecipitated by antibody to the purified canalicular bile acid transport protein and conferred on COS cells the capacity to pump out [3H]taurocholate with efflux characteristics comparable with those previously determined in canalicular membrane vesicles (Km = 100 microM; Vmax = 200 pmol/mg of protein/20 s). A truncated ecto-ATPase cDNA, missing the cytoplasmic tail, was targeted correctly to the cell surface but did not confer bile acid transport activity on COS cells. The results of this study also show that the canalicular ecto-ATPase/bile acid transport protein is phosphorylated on its cytoplasmic tail and that its phosphorylation is stimulated by activation of protein kinase C and inhibited by inhibitors of protein kinase C activation. Moreover, inhibition of protein kinase C activation by staurosporine completely abrogates bile acid transport but does not affect ATPase activity. This study, therefore, demonstrates that the rat liver canalicular ecto-ATPase is also a bile acid transport protein, that the capacity to pump out bile acid can be conferred on a heterologous cell by DNA-mediated gene transfer, and that phosphorylation within the cytoplasmic tail of the transporter is essential for bile acid efflux activity but not for ATPase activity.     

The sister of P-glycoprotein represents the canalicular bile salt export pump of mammalian liver

Canalicular secretion of bile salts is a vital function of the vertebrate liver, yet the molecular identity of the involved ATP-dependent carrier protein has not been elucidated. We cloned the full-length cDNA of the sister of P-glycoprotein (spgp; Mr approximately 160,000) of rat liver and demonstrated that it functions as an ATP-dependent bile salt transporter in cRNA injected Xenopus laevis oocytes and in vesicles isolated from transfected Sf9 cells. The latter demonstrated a 5-fold stimulation of ATP-dependent taurocholate transport as compared with controls. This spgp-mediated taurocholate transport was stimulated solely by ATP, was inhibited by vanadate, and exhibited saturability with increasing concentrations of taurocholate (Km approximately 5 microM). Furthermore, spgp-mediated transport rates of various bile salts followed the same order of magnitude as ATP-dependent transport in canalicular rat liver plasma membrane vesicles, i.e. taurochenodeoxycholate > tauroursodeoxycholate = taurocholate > glycocholate = cholate. Tissue distribution assessed by Northern blotting revealed predominant, if not exclusive, expression of spgp in the liver, where it was further localized to the canalicular microvilli and to subcanalicular vesicles of the hepatocytes by in situ immunofluorescence and immunogold labeling studies. These results indicate that the sister of P-glycoprotein is the major canalicular bile salt export pump of mammalian liver.     

Molecular and cell biological analyses for intestinal absorption and renal excretion of drugs

Intestinal absorption and renal tubular secretion are transport processes determining the availability and the disposition of drugs in the body. In this review, our studies on the molecular and cell biological analyses of intestinal absorption and renal secretion of drugs are described. We evaluated the transepithelial transport and the cellular accumulation of peptide-like drugs such as beta-lactam antibiotics and bestatin (a dipeptide-like antineoplastic agent) in the human adenocarcinoma colon cell line, Caco-2, as an in vitro model for studying absorption mechanisms of these drugs. We have found that the transcellular transport of these peptide-like drugs is mediated by both the apically- and basolaterally-localized peptide transporters. To characterize molecular aspects of absorption of the peptide-like drugs, we studied cDNA cloning of H+/peptide cotransporters, PEPT1 and PEPT2, expressed in rats. The rat PEPT1 has been shown to mediate the H- coupled uphill transport of beta-lactam antibiotics across the brush-border membranes of the intestinal and renal epithelia. The rat PEPT2 is expressed predominantly in the kidney, but not in the intestine, mediating tubular reabsorption of the peptide-like drugs. We examined the transcellular transport of organic cations across monolayers of the kidney epithelial cell line, LLC-PK1. We have found that LLC-PK1 cells possess the H+/organic cation antiporter and the membrane potential-sensitive organic cation transporter in the apical and basolateral membranes, respectively, thereby tetraethylammonium (TEA) being transported unidirectionally from the basolateral to the apical side of the monolayers. We have isolated a cDNA encoding a rat kidney-specific organic cation transporter, OCT 2, which transports TEA in a H(+)-gradient independent manner, suggesting that OCT2 is localized to the basolateral membranes of renal tubular cells. In addition, a cDNA encoding a novel rat organic anion transporter, OAT-K1, has been cloned. OAT-K1 is expressed exclusively in the renal proximal tubules, and mediates the transport of methotrexate. Analyses of the molecular and cell biological mechanisms for drug absorption and secretion will provide information for the understanding of organ specific drug transport systems and for the development of drug design and/or drug delivery system.     

Functional integrity of hepatocyte canalicular membrane transport of taurocholate and bilirubin diglucuronide in Eisai hyperbilirubinuria rats

Eisai hyperbilirubinuria rats (EHBR) are characterized by conjugated hyperbilirubinemia, and impaired or defective excretion of bilirubin, reduced glutathione and other organic anions from hepatocytes. Hepatocyte canalicular membrane vesicles (CMV) from EHBR and normal SD rats were studied with regard to taurocholate (TC) transport driven by ATP or a membrane potential and bicarbonate-stimulated bilirubin diglucuronide (BDG) transport. ATP-dependent uptake or association of BDG with CMV was also studied in both strains of rats. No significant differences in the uptake of TC and BDG by CMV were observed. This indicates the functional integrity of the canalicular transporters for both organic anions in EHBR. Biliary excretion of taurolithocholic acid sulfate (TLCS) is defective in EHBR. However, TLCS inhibited ATP-dependent TC uptake by SD rat CMV competitively, which may be against the hypothesis that a common organic anion carrier is defective in canalicular membranes of jaundiced rats.     

Hepatic metabolism and transport of bilirubin and other organic anions

Most of bilirubin, bile acids and other organic anions are preferentially taken up by the liver and excreted into bile. Recently many transporters on the sinusoidal and canalicular membranes of the hepatocytes have been reported for each ligand. complementary DNA was cloned for human Na+/taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP) which mediates sodium dependent secondary active hepatic uptake of bile acids. For the hepatic uptake of non-bile acid-organic anions such as bilirubin, at least 4 transporters are postulated, i.e., bilirubin/BSP binding protein (BBBP), organic anion binding protein (OABP), bilitranslocase, and organic anion transporting polypeptide (OATP). In the hepatocytes, bilirubin is glucuronidated in the endoplasmic reticulum. The gene for UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) 1 family has been elucidated and differential splicing from several exons 1 (A to J) results in forming isozymes of UGT 1 including bilirubin UGT. At the canalicular membranes, two main ATP-dependent organic anion transporters have been reported, i.e., canalicular bile salt transporter (cBST) for bile acids and canalicular multispecific organic anion transporter (cMOAT) for non-bile acid organic anions. Recently multidrug resistance protein (MRP) is reported closely related to or identical to cMOAT. These canalicular ATP-dependent transporters are called ABC (ATP-binding cassette) transporters.     

Hepatic sequestration and modulation of the canalicular transport of the organic cation, daunorubicin, in the Rat

In contrast to organic anions, substrates for the canalicular mdr1a and b are usually organic cations and are often sequestered in high concentrations in intracellular acidic compartments. Because many of these compounds are therapeutic agents, we investigated if their sequestration could be regulated. We used isolated perfused rat liver (IPRL), isolated rat hepatocyte couplets (IRHC), and WIF-B cells to study the cellular localization and biliary excretion of the fluorescent cation, daunorubicin (DNR). Despite rapid (within 15 minutes) and efficient (>90%) cellular uptake in the IPRL, only approximately 10% of the dose administered (0.2-20 micromol) was excreted in bile after 85 minutes. Confocal microscopy revealed fluorescence predominantly in vesicles in the pericanalicular region in IPRL, IRHC, and WIF-B cells. Treatment of these cells with chloroquine and bafilomycin A, agents that disrupt the pH gradient across the vesicular membrane, resulted in a loss of vesicular fluorescence, reversible in the case of bafilomycin A. Taurocholate (TC) and dibutyryl cAMP (DBcAMP), stimulators of transcytotic vesicular transport, increased the biliary recovery of DNR significantly above controls, by 70% and 35%, respectively. The microtubule destabilizer, nocodazole, decreased biliary excretion of DNR. No effect on secretion was noted in TR- mutant rats deficient in mrp2. Coadministration of verapamil, an inhibitor of mdr1, also decreased DNR excretion. While TC and DBcAMP did not affect the fluorescent intensity or pattern of distribution in IRHC, nocodazole resulted in redistribution of DNR to peripheral punctuate structures. These findings suggest that the organic cation, DNR, is largely sequestered in cells such as hepatocytes, yet its excretion can still be modulated.     

Recombinant human hepatocyte growth factor facilitates biliary transport after hepatocyte transplantation in Eisai hyperbilirubinemic rats

Hepatocyte transplantation may offer an attractive treatment for inborn errors of liver metabolism. However, factor(s) are required as stimuli to induce proliferation of the limited number of hepatocytes transplanted. The Eisai hyperbilirubinemic rat (EHBR) is a Sprague-Dawley (SD) mutant rat with conjugated hyperbilirubinemia. EHBRs have impaired canalicular excretory transport of organic anions, bile acid glucuronide, and sulfate. Recombinant human hepatocyte growth factor (rhHGF) (100 microg/kg) was injected intravenously at 2-hr intervals for 10 hr, immediately and 35 days following the intraportal injection of 1 x 10(7) wild-type SD rat hepatocytes. Serum bilirubin concentrations decreased significantly within 35 days and were maintained at significantly reduced levels for 120 days following transplantation. Biliary excretion was demonstrated by the biliary transport of indocyanine green and sulfobromophthalein sodium into the bile. These results indicate that hepatic transport of bile acid conjugates in EHBRs can be restored by hepatocyte transplantation combined with repeated administration of exogenous rhHGF, in conjunction with functioning of the recipient's excretory biliary system.     

Ethinylestradiol treatment induces multiple canalicular membrane transport alterations in rat liver

We investigated the effects of 17 alpha-ethinylestradiol treatment of rats on various transport functions in isolated basolateral and canalicular liver plasma membrane vesicles. Both membrane subfractions were purified to a similar degree from control and cholestatic livers. Although moderate membrane lipid alterations were predominantly observed in basolateral vesicles, no change in basolateral Na+/K(+)-ATPase activity was found. Furthermore, while Na(+)-dependent taurocholate uptake was decreased by approximately 40% in basolateral vesicles, the maximal velocity of ATP-dependent taurocholate transport was decreased by 63% in canalicular membranes. In contrast, only minimal changes or no changes at all were observed for electrogenic taurocholate transport in "cholestatic" canalicular membranes and total microsomes, respectively. However, canalicular vesicles from cholestatic livers also exhibited marked reductions in ATP-dependent transport of S-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)glutathione and in Na(+)-dependent uptake of adenosine, while in the same vesicles HCO3-/SO4- exchange and Na+/glycine cotransport activities were markedly stimulated. These data show that in addition to the previously demonstrated sinusoidal transport abnormalities ethinylestradiol-induced cholestasis is also associated with multiple canalicular membrane transport alterations in rat liver. Hence, functional transport alterations at both polar surface domains might ultimately be responsible for the inhibitory effects of estrogens on the organic anion excretory capacity and on bile formation in rat liver.     

Efficient in vitro vectorial transport of a fluorescent conjugated bile acid analogue by polarized hepatic hybrid WIF-B and WIF-B9 cells

Efficient transport of bile acids, a typical characteristic of hepatocytes, is partially lost in most hepatoma cell lines and in normal hepatocytes after some days in culture. We have tested whether the polarized rat hepatoma-human fibroblast hybrid WIF (hybrids between W138 and Fao cells) cells previously obtained by our group were able to perform vectorial transport of the fluorescent bile acid derivative cholylglycylamidofluorescein (CGamF) towards the bile canaliculi (BC). Four different WIF clones were analyzed. All were well polarized, as shown by the formation of spherical and even tubular BC-like structures and by the restricted localization at the BC, visualized by immunofluorescence, of the apical membrane marker HA4, a possible bile acid carrier. WIF-B and its subclone WIF-B9 were found to accumulate CGamF in 65% to 75% of their BC. This transport was time, temperature, and partly sodium dependent and was inhibited by coincubation with the parental natural bile salt cholylglycine. Dinitrophenyl glutathione, a substrate of the canalicular multispecific organic anion transporter, did not inhibit CGamF canalicular secretion, whereas it greatly impaired the canalicular secretion of a non-bile acid organic anion, fluorescein, generated intracellularly from fluorescein diacetate. Confocal microscopy confirmed the presence of CGamF in the cytoplasm, supporting a transcellular route from medium to BC. In contrast, two other polarized clones exhibited a poor ability (WIF 12-6) or no ability (WIF12-1 TGdelta) to vectorially transport CGamE In conclusion, WIF-B and WIF-B9 exhibit not only structural but also functional polarity, at least as far as vectorial organic anion transport is concerned.     

Isolation and characterization of tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) insulin-like growth factors gene and proximal promoter region

It has been shown that both multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP1) and canalicular multispecific organic anion transporter (cMOAT/MRP2) have the ability to extrude glutathione conjugates (GS-X pump activity)from cells. Therefore, they play an important role in the detoxification of xenobiotics. Using mrp1-knockout mice, it has recently been shown that MRP1/mrp1 has an important role in the export of leukotriene C4 (LTC4), a mediator of inflammation, and in protecting the body from a number of toxins, including several antitumor drugs. A comparison of the transport properties across the bile canalicular membrane in normal and mutant rats, whose cMOAT function is hereditarily defective, has shown that the physiologic role of cMOAT is to excrete LTC4, bilirubin glucuronides, 171-estradiol-170-D-glucuronide, and reduced folates. In the present review article, we summarize the substrate specificity and mechanism for the transport of these GS-X pumps, focusing on the pharmacologic and physiologic aspects. The transport activity mediated by cMOAT is also discussed in terms of a comparison between membrane vesicles from hepatocytes and cMOAT-transfected cells, and we also briefly examine the possible role of MRPI and cMOAT in the extrusion of reduced glutathione.     

Adenosine triphosphate-dependent transport of estradiol-17beta(beta-D-glucuronide) in membrane vesicles by MDR1 expressed in insect cells

MDR1, an ABC transporter that confers multidrug resistance in tumor cells, is constitutively expressed in normal liver canalicular membrane. Human MDR1-expressing multidrug-resistant cells display increased resistance to estradiol-17beta(beta-D-glucuronide) (E217G). MDR1 substrates/modulators inhibit adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-dependent transport of E217G in the rat canalicular membrane and protect against E217G-mediated cholestasis in isolated perfused rat liver. The present studies were designed to determine if E217G is a substrate for MDR1 using a baculovirus expression system and if other estrogen glucuronides interact with MDR1. ATP-dependent transport of E217G (10 micromol/L) was linear for up to 2 minutes and yielded a rate of 45.6 pmol/min/mg protein in membrane vesicles from Sf9 cells infected with MDR1-baculovirus. This transport was saturable (Km = 62 micromol/L) and occurred into an osmotically sensitive space. ATP-dependent transport of E217G (10 micromol/L) was inhibited 63% by 10 micromol/L daunomycin, but not by 100 micromol/L S-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)glutathione (GS-DNP) (a substrate for canalicular multispecific organic anion transporter [cMOAT]). Glucuronide conjugates of the estrogen D-ring (100 micromol/L), estriol-17beta(beta-D-glucuronide) (E317G) and estriol-16(beta-D-glucuronide) (E316G), inhibited MDR1-mediated E217G transport by 58% and 35%, respectively. In contrast, noncholestatic glucuronides, estradiol-3-(beta-D-glucuronide) (E23G) or estradiol-3-sulfate-17beta(beta-D-glucuronide) (E23SO417G), had no effect. E217G neither stimulated MDR1 ATPase activity nor inhibited verapamil-stimulated ATPase activity. Infusion of 1.5 micromol/L doxorubicin or 1 micromol/L taxol protected against cholestasis induced by E316G and E317G in isolated perfused rat liver. These studies identify E217G, and probably E316G and E317G, as endogenous substrates for MDR1.     

Polymorphism of gamma-adducin gene in genetic hypertension and mapping of the gene to rat chromosome 1q55

Adducin (ADD) is a heterodimeric protein involved in cellular signal transduction. A mutation in the alpha subunit affects ion transport and blood pressure in primary hypertension of Milan rats (MHS) and humans. In rats this effect is modulated by another mutation in the beta subunit. The recently described gamma subunit is a new member of the ADD family that should take the place of beta subunit in cells and tissues expressing alpha but not beta-Add. A missense mutation (Q572K) has been found in the gamma subunit of the Milan rats. Nineteen normotensive and five hypertensive inbred rat strains were genotyped for the polymorphisms in alpha, beta and gamma-Add genes. A disequilibrium was evident in the distribution of MHS-like Add genotype, being more frequent between the hypertensive than the normotensive strains (Chi-Square = 13.03, p = 0.0003). In kidney, brain, spleen, liver and heart a cDNA differing from gamma subunit by an in-frame insertion of 96 nucleotides, was found by PCR amplification and confirmed by RNase protection analysis. The rat gamma-Add gene was localized to chromosome 1q55 by fluorescence in situ hybridization.     

Structure, function, and molecular modeling approaches to the study of the intestinal dipeptide transporter PepT1

The proton-coupled intestinal dipeptide transporter, PepT1, has 707 amino acids, 12 putative transmembrane domains (TMD), and is of importance in the transport of nutritional di- and tripeptides and structurally related drugs, such as penicillins and cephalosporins. By using a combination of molecular modeling and site-directed mutagenesis, we have identified several key amino acid residues that effect catalytic transport properties of PepT1. Our molecular model of the transporter was examined by dividing it into four sections, parallel to the membrane, starting from the extracellular side. The molecular model revealed a putative transport channel and the approximate locations of several aromatic and charged amino acid residues that were selected as targets for mutagenesis. Wild type or mutagenized human PepT1 cDNA was transfected into human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells, and the uptake of tritiated glycylsarcosine [3H]-(Gly-Sar) was measured. Michaelis-Menton analysis of the wild-type and mutated transporters revealed the following results for site-directed mutagenesis. Mutation of Tyr-12 or Arg-282 into alanine has only a very modest effect on Gly-Sar uptake. By contrast, mutation of Trp-294 or Glu-595 into alanine reduced Gly-Sar uptake by 80 and 95%, respectively, and mutation of Tyr-167 reduced Gly-Sar uptake to the level of mock-transfected cells. In addition, preliminary data from fluorescence microscopy following the expression of N-terminal-GFP-labeled PepT1Y167A in HEK cells indicates that the Y167A mutation was properly inserted into the plasma membrane but has a greatly reduced Vmax.     

Modulators of the protein kinase C system influence biliary excretion of cationic drugs

To investigate whether hepatobiliary transport of organic cations is under regulatory control, we studied transport of tri-n-butylmethylammonium in the isolated perfused rat liver and in isolated rat hepatocytes. Transport was investigated in the presence of modulators of the protein kinase C and the cyclic AMP second-messenger system. In the isolated perfused rat liver, it was observed that compounds modulating protein kinase C activity clearly affected the biliary excretion process of the cation tri-n-butylmethylammonium. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, a compound that directly stimulates protein kinase C, elevated the biliary excretion rate of tri-n-butylmethylammonium in a concentration-dependent manner, reaching a twofold increase at 60 nmol/L of the phorbol ester. The inactive derivative 4 alpha-phorbol 12, 13-didecanoate (60 nmol/L) did not show any effect. Vasopressin (48 nmol/L), a receptor-mediated activator of protein kinase C, stimulated the excretion rate of the cation by about 50%. Staurosporin (1 mumol/L), an inhibitor of protein kinase C, clearly decreased the biliary excretion rate of the cation and also blocked its stimulation by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. Neither phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate nor vasopressin (at concentrations ranging from 10(-9) to 10(-6) mol/L) affected the initial uptake velocity of tri-n-butylmethylammonium in isolated hepatocytes and isolated perfused livers, whereas staurosporin (1 mumol/L) showed only a modest inhibition of the uptake of the cation. It is inferred that the effect of protein kinase C modulators on hepatobiliary transport of organic cations occurs at the level of carrier-mediated transport in the canalicular membrane.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Nramp2 is mutated in the anemic Belgrade (b) rat: evidence of a role for Nramp2 in endosomal iron transport

The Belgrade (b) rat has an autosomal recessively inherited, microcytic, hypochromic anemia associated with abnormal reticulocyte iron uptake and gastrointestinal iron absorption. The b reticulocyte defect appears to be failure of iron transport out of endosomes within the transferrin cycle. Aspects of this phenotype are similar to those reported for the microcytic anemia (mk) mutation in the mouse. Recently, mk has been attributed to a missense mutation in the gene encoding the putative iron transporter protein Nramp2. To investigate the possibility that Nramp2 was also mutated in the b rat, we established linkage of the phenotype to the centromeric portion of rat chromosome 7. This region exhibits synteny to the chromosomal location of Nramp2 in the mouse. A polymorphism within the rat Nramp2 gene cosegregated with the b phenotype. A glycine-to-arginine missense mutation (G185R) was present in the b Nramp2 gene, but not in the normal allele. Strikingly, this amino acid alteration is the same as that seen in the mk mouse. Functional studies of the protein encoded by the b allele of rat Nramp2 demonstrated that the mutation disrupted iron transport. These results confirm the hypothesis that Nramp2 is the protein defective in the Belgrade rat and raise the possibility that the phenotype shared by mk and b animals is unique to the G185R mutation. Furthermore, the phenotypic characteristics of these animals indicate that Nramp2 is essential both for normal intestinal iron absorption and for transport of iron out of the transferrin cycle endosome.     

Recruitment curve of the soleus H reflex in patients with neurogenic claudication

An abnormal stimulation of the cAMP pathway has been recognized as the primary event in various pathological situations that lead to goitrogenesis or thyroid tumors. Thyroid adenomas are monoclonal neoplasms that become independent of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in their secretory function and growth. Mutated forms of the TSH receptor (TSHR) and the adenylyl cyclase-activating Gs alpha protein, which confer a constitutive activity on these proteins, have been observed in human adenomas. The FRTL-5 rat thyroid cell line is a permanent but untransformed line; the growth of which depends on the presence of TSH, and at least in part, on the stimulation of the cAMP pathway. In order to compare the oncogenic potential of the activated mutant Gs alpha protein and the constitutively activated TSHR, we have transfected FRTL-5 cells with an expression vector bearing either the cDNA of the Gs alpha gene carrying the A201S mutation or the cDNA of the TSH receptor carrying the M453T mutation recently identified in a case of congenital hyperthyroidism. The expression of these two cDNAs was driven by the bovine thyroglobulin gene promoter. We show that, although the expression of both the Gs alpha or TSHR mutant proteins leads to TSH-independent proliferation and to constitutive cAMP accumulation in FRTL-5 cells, only the mutant TSHR is able to induce neoplastic transformation, as demonstrated by growth in semi-solid medium and tumorigenesis in nude mice.