Na+, K+, Cl− cotransport and its regulation in Ehrlich ascites Tumor cells. Ca2+/Calmodulin and protein kinase C dependent pathways

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Abstract
Net Cl− uptake as well as unidirectional36Cl influx during regulatory volume increase (RVI) require external K+. Half-maximal rate of bumetanide-sensitive36Cl uptake is attained at about 3.3mm external K+. The bumetanide-sensitive K+ influx found during RVI is strongly dependent on both Na+ and Cl−. The bumetanide-sensitive unidirectional Na+ influx during RVI is dependent on K+ as well as on Cl−. The cotransporter activated during RVI in Ehrlich cells, therefore, seems to transport Na+, K+ and Cl−. In the presence of ouabain and Ba+ the stoichiometry of the bumetanide-sensitive net fluxes can be measured at 1.0 Na+, 0.8 K+, 2.0 Cl− or approximately 1 : Na, 1 : K, 2 : Cl. Under these circumstances the K+ and Cl− flux ratios (influx/efflux) for the bumetanide-sensitive component were estimated at 1.34 ±0.08 and 1.82 ± 0.15 which should be compared to the gradient for the Na+, K+, 2Cl− cotransport system at 1.75 ± 0.24. Addition of sucrose to hypertonicity causes the Ehrlich cells to shrink with no signs of RVI, whereas shrinkage with hypertonic standard medium (all extracellular ion concentrations increased) results in a RVI response towards the original cell volume. Under both conditions a bumetanide-sensitive unidirectional K+ influx is activated. During hypotonic conditions a small bumetanide-sensitive K+ influx is observed, indicating that the cotransport system is already activated. The cotransport is activated 10–15 fold by bradykinin, an agonist which stimulates phospholipase C resulting in release of internal Ca2+ and activation of protein kinase C. The anti-calmodulin drug pimozide inhibits most of the bumetanide-sensitive K+ influx during RVI. The cotransporter can be activated by the phorbol ester TPA. These results indicate that the stimulation of the Na+, K+, Cl− cotransport involves both Ca2+/calmodulin and protein kinase C.