Cl- transport in a glioma cell line: evidence for two transport mechanisms.

Cl- transport was studied in the glioma cell line LRM55 . Our results indicate that LRM55 cells contain two major Cl- transporters, an anion exchanger and a K+/Cl- cotransporter , and that these are similar to the Cl- porters found in primary cultures of astrocytes. The exchanger was studied by measuring fluxes of Cl- (as 36Cl-). 36Cl- flux was trans-stimulated by Cl- or HCO-3 and was inhibited by SITS or furosemide. The K+/Cl- cotransporter was studied by measuring fluxes of 36Cl- and K+ (as 86Rb+). External K+ stimulated 36Cl- influx, and external Cl- stimulated 86Rb+ influx. Furosemide, but not SITS, inhibited the K+/Cl- cotransporter . As in primary cultures of astrocytes, the steady-state concentration of Cl- in LRM55 cells was higher than that predicted from passive equilibration according to the membrane potential. LRM55 cells appear to be a good in vitro model for glial Cl- transport.