Abstract.
K-Cl cotransport (COT), a ouabain-insensitive, Cl-dependent bidirectional K flux, is ubiquitously present in all cells, plays a major role in ion and volume homeostasis, and is activated by cell swelling and a variety of chemical interventions. Lithium modulates several cation transport pathways and inhibits phospholipid turnover in red blood cells (RBCs). Lithium also inhibits K-Cl COT by an unknown mechanism. To test the hypothesis whereby Li inhibits swelling-activated K-Cl COT by altering either its osmotic response, its regulation, or by competing with K for binding sites, low K (LK) sheep (S) RBCs were loaded with Li by Na/Li exchange or the cation ionophore nystatin. K-Cl COT was measured as the Cl-dependent, ouabain-insensitive K efflux or Rb influx. The results show that Li altered the cell morphology, and increased both cell volume and diameter. Internal (Li i ) but not external (Li o ) Li inhibited swelling-activated K-Cl COT by 85% with an apparent K i of ∼7 mm. In Cl, Li i decreased K efflux at relative cell volumes between 0.9 and 1.2, and at external pHs between 7.2 and 7.4. Li i reduced the V max and increased the K m for K efflux in Cl. Furthermore, Li i increased the production of diacylglycerol in a bimodal fashion, without significant effects on the phosphatidylinositol concentration, and revealed the presence of a complete PI cycle in LK SRBCs. Finally, phorbol ester treatment and PD89059, an inhibitor of mitogen-activated protein kinase (ERK2) kinase, caused a time-dependent inhibition of K-Cl COT. Hence, Li i appears to inhibit K-Cl COT by acting at an allosteric site on the transporter or its putative regulators, and by modulation of the cellular phospholipid metabolism and a PKC-dependent regulatory pathway, causes an altered response of K-Cl COT to pH and volume.
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Received: 1 November 1999/Revised: 6 June 2000
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Ferrell, C., Lauf, P., Wilson, B. et al. Lithium and Protein Kinase C Modulators Regulate Swelling-Activated K-Cl Cotransport and Reveal a Complete Phosphatidylinositol Cycle in Low K Sheep Erythrocytes. J. Membrane Biol. 177, 81–93 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/s002320001101
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s002320001101