Angiotensin (AT1A) receptor-mediated increases in transcellular sodium transport in proximal tubule cells.

Angiotensin II (ANG II), acting through angiotensin type 1A receptors (AT1A), is important in regulating proximal tubule salt and water balance. AT1A are present on apical (AP) and basolateral (BL) surfaces of proximal tubule epithelial cells (PTEC). The molecular mechanism of AT1A function in epithelial tissue is not well understood, because specific binding of ANG II to intact PTEC has not been found and because a number of isoforms of AT receptors are present in vivo. To overcome this problem, we developed a cell line from opossum kidney (OK) proximal tubule cells, which stably express AT1A (Kd = 5.27 nM, Bmax = 6.02 pmol/mg protein). Characterization of nontransfected OK cells revealed no evidence of AT1A mRNA (reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis) or protein (125I-labeled ANG II binding studies) expression. In cells stably expressing AT1A, ANG II binding was saturable, reversible, and regulated by G proteins. Transfected receptors were coupled to increases in intracellular calcium and inhibition of cAMP. To determine the polarity of AT1A expression and function in proximal tubules, transfected cells were grown to confluence on membrane inserts under conditions that allowed selective access to AP or BL surfaces. AT1A were expressed on both AP (Kd = 8.7 nM, Bmax = 3.33 pmol/mg protein) and BL (Kd = 10.1 nM, Bmax = 5.50 pmol/mg protein) surfaces. Both AP and BL AT1A receptors underwent agonist-dependent endocytosis (AP receptor: t1/2 = 7.9 min, Ymax = 78.5%; BL receptor: t1/2 = 2.1 min, Ymax = 86.3%). In cells transfected with AT1A, ANG II caused time- and concentration-dependent increases in transepithelial 22Na transport (2-fold over control at 20 min) by increasing Na/H exchange. In conclusion, we have established a stable proximal tubule cell line that expresses AT1A on both AP and BL surfaces, undergoes agonist-dependent receptor endocytosis, and is functional, as evidenced by inhibition of cAMP and increases in cytosolic calcium mobilization and transepithelial sodium movement. This cell line should prove useful for understanding the molecular and biochemical regulation of AT1A expression and function in PTEC.