Immunolocalization of anion exchanger AE2 and cation exchanger NHE-1 in distinct adjacent cells of gastric mucosa.

The gastric mucosa secretes both protons and bicarbonate. The molecular identity of the H(+)-K(+)-ATPase, which mediates acid secretion, has long been known, but the other components of the secretory machinery and their cellular disposition are less well characterized. This study identifies and localizes in rat and rabbit gastric mucosa a chloride-bicarbonate exchanger protein and a Na(+)-H+ exchanger protein. The previously described band 3-related protein of the parietal cell has been identified by isoform-specific antibodies as anion exchanger (AE) 2 and localized to the basolateral membranes of the parietal cells. The Na(+)-H+ exchanger protein NHE-1 was located in the basolateral membranes of the mucous neck cells, interdigitated between the parietal cells of the gastric glands and in the basolateral membranes of the surface mucous cells. Neither transporter protein was abundantly expressed deep in the gland, where most of the pepsinogen cells reside. Carbonic anhydrase II (CA II) was expressed at higher abundance in the surface mucous cells and mucous neck cells, which expressed NHE-1, than in the parietal cells, which expressed AE2. The morphological evidence identified AE2 as a major parietal cell anion exchanger, whereas NHE-1 and CA II colocalized in mucous neck, chief, and surface mucous cells. We propose that all three of these cell types contribute to gastric bicarbonate secretion.