The ten-member SLC26 gene family encodes anion exchangers capable of transporting a wide variety of monovalent and divalent anions. The physiological role(s) of individual paralogs is evidently due to variation in both anion specificity and expression pattern. Three members of the gene family are involved in genetic disease; SLC26A2 in chondrodysplasias, SLC26A3 in chloride-losing diarrhea, and SLC26A4 in Pendred syndrome and hereditary deafness (DFNB4). The analysis of Slc26a4-null mice has significantly enhanced the understanding of the roles of this gene in both health and disease. Targeted deletion of Slc26a5 has in turn revealed that this paralog is essential for electromotor activity of cochlear outer hair cells and thus for cochlear amplification. Anions transported by the SLC26 family, with variable specificity, include the chloride, sulfate, bicarbonate, formate, oxalate and hydroxyl ions. The functional versatility of SLC26A6 identifies it as the primary candidate for the apical Cl(-)-formate/oxalate and Cl(-)-base exchanger of brush border membranes in the renal proximal tubule, with a central role in the reabsorption of Na(+)-Cl(-) from the glomerular ultrafiltrate. At least three of the SLC26 exchangers mediate electrogenic Cl(-)-HCO(3)(-) and Cl(-)-OH(-) exchange; the stoichiometry of Cl(-)-HCO(3)(-) exchange appears to differ between SLC26 paralogs, such that SLC26A3 transports >/=2 Cl(-) ions per HCO(3)(-) ion, whereas SLC26A6 transports >/=2 HCO(3)(-) ions per Cl(-) ion. SLC26 Cl(-)-HCO(3)(-) and Cl(-)-OH(-) exchange is activated by the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR), implicating defective regulation of these exchangers in the reduced HCO(3)(-) transport seen in cystic fibrosis and related disorders; CFTR-independent activation of these exchangers is thus an important and novel goal for the future therapy of cystic fibrosis.

The SLC26 gene family of multifunctional anion exchangers.

Compared to terrestrial animals, fish have to cope with more-challenging osmotic and ionic gradients from aquatic environments with diverse salinities, ion compositions, and pH values. Gills, a unique and highly studied organ in research on fish osmoregulation and ionoregulation, provide an excellent model to study the regulatory mechanisms of ion transport. The present review introduces and discusses some recent advances in relevant issues of teleost gill ion transport and functions of gill ionocytes. Based on accumulating evidence, a conclusive model of NaCl secretion in gills of euryhaline teleosts has been established. Interpretations of results of studies on freshwater fish gill Na+/Cl- uptake mechanisms are still being debated compared with those for NaCl secretion. Current models for Na+/Cl- uptake are proposed based on studies in traditionally used model species. Many reported inconsistencies are claimed to be due to differences among species, various experimental designs, or acclimation conditions. Having the benefit of advanced techniques in molecular/cellular biology, functional genomics, and model animals, several new notions have recently been raised concerning relevant issues of Na+/Cl- uptake pathways. Several new windows have been opened particularly in terms of molecular mechanisms of ionocyte differentiation and energy metabolite transport between gill cells during environmental challenge.

New insights into fish ion regulation and mitochondrion-rich cells

Vacuolar H+-ATPases are ubiquitous multisubunit complexes mediating the ATP-dependent transport of protons. In addition to their role in acidifying the lumen of various intracellular organelles, va...

Renal Vacuolar H+-ATPase

https://boris.unibe.ch/41104/1/SLC9_DFuster.pdf

SLC9/NHE gene family, a plasma membrane and organellar family of Na⁺/H⁺ exchangers

Although Na+/H+ exchanger isoform 3 (NHE3) mediates most Na+/H+ exchange in the proximal tubule, studies of NHE3/NHE2 null mice suggest residual Na+-dependent proton secretion (Choi JY, Shah M, Lee...

Renal expression of novel Na+/H+ exchanger isoform NHE8.

The proximal convoluted tubule (PCT) reabsorbs most of the filtered bicarbonate. Proton secretion is believed to be mediated predominantly by an apical membrane Na(+)/H(+) exchanger (NHE). Several NHE isoforms have been cloned, but only NHE3 and NHE2 are known to be present on the apical membrane of the PCT. Here we examined apical membrane PCT sodium-dependent proton secretion of wild-type (NHE3(+/+)/NHE2(+/+)), NHE3(-/-), NHE2(-/-), and double-knockout NHE3(-/-)/NHE2(-/-) mice to determine their relative contribution to luminal proton secretion. NHE2(-/-) and wild-type mice had comparable rates of sodium-dependent proton secretion. Sodium-dependent proton secretion in NHE3(-/-) mice was approximately 50% that of wild-type mice. The residual sodium-dependent proton secretion was inhibited by 100 microM 5-(N-ethyl-N-isopropyl) amiloride (EIPA). Luminal sodium-dependent proton secretion was the same in NHE3(-/-)/NHE2(-/-) as in NHE3(-/-) mice. These data point to a previously unrecognized Na(+)-dependent EIPA-sensitive proton secretory mechanism in the proximal tubule that may play an important role in acid-base homeostasis.

/pdf/novel-amiloride-sensitive-sodium-dependent-proton-secretion-2e6o3zho46.pdf

Novel amiloride-sensitive sodium-dependent proton secretion in the mouse proximal convoluted tubule.

Neonates have a lower serum bicarbonate level than adults, which is caused by a lower renal threshold for bicarbonate. Eighty percent of bicarbonate reabsorption occurs in the proximal tubule, in which proton secretion is predominantly mediated by a luminal Na+/H+ antiporter. Previous studies have demonstrated that there is a maturational increase in apical membrane rabbit proximal convoluted tubule Na+/H+ antiporter activity. However, in rat brush border membrane vesicles, Na+/H+ activity was higher in neonates than that in adult rats. To examine the maturation of Na+/H+ antiporter activity in rat proximal convoluted tubules, we perfused rat proximal convoluted tubules in vitro. Na+/H+ antiporter activity was assayed as the proton secretory rate on luminal sodium removal. Na+/H+ antiporter activity was 121.2 ± 18.4 pmol/mm·min in neonatal and 451.8 ± 40.6 pmol/mm·min in adult proximal convoluted tubules (p < 0.001). We next examined whether the increase in Na+/H+ antiporter activity was associated with changes in renal cortical NHE3 mRNA and brush border membrane NHE3 protein abundance. Adult renal cortical NHE3 mRNA abundance was 10-fold greater than that in 1-d-old neonates (p < 0.001). There was a comparable developmental increase in renal brush border membrane vesicle NHE3 protein abundance (p < 0.001). In summary, this study demonstrates that there is a maturational increase in rat apical membrane Na+/H+ antiporter activity, renal cortical NHE3 mRNA, and brush border membrane vesicle NHE3 protein abundance.

/pdf/ontogeny-of-na-h-antiporter-activity-in-rat-proximal-18yro0frim.pdf

Ontogeny of Na+/H+ antiporter activity in rat proximal convoluted tubules.

We have recently demonstrated that the rates of both active and passive proximal straight tubule (PST) NaCl transport in neonatal rabbits were less than in adults. In this segment NaCl entry across...

/pdf/maturation-of-proximal-straight-tubule-nacl-transport-role-h3m8j2wm8r.pdf

Maturation of proximal straight tubule NaCl transport: role of thyroid hormone

The present in vitro microperfusion study compared the mechanism and rates of NaCl transport in neonatal and adult rabbit proximal straight tubules. In proximal straight tubules perfused with a lat...

/pdf/maturation-of-rabbit-proximal-straight-tubule-chloride-base-259j4ih0os.pdf

Maturation of rabbit proximal straight tubule chloride/base exchange

The present in vitro microperfusion study examined the maturation of Na+/H+antiporter and Cl−/base exchanger on the basolateral membrane of rabbit superficial proximal straight tubules (PST). Intra...

/pdf/neonatal-rabbit-proximal-tubule-basolateral-membrane-na-h-38avy3hdvl.pdf

Mehul Shah

Papers

Novel amiloride-sensitive sodium-dependent proton secretion in the mouse proximal convoluted tubule.

Ontogeny of Na+/H+ antiporter activity in rat proximal convoluted tubules.

Maturation of proximal straight tubule NaCl transport: role of thyroid hormone

Maturation of rabbit proximal straight tubule chloride/base exchange

Neonatal rabbit proximal tubule basolateral membrane Na+/H+ antiporter and Cl-/base exchange.