NYMC Faculty Publications
L-WNK1 is Required for BK Channel Activation in Intercalated Cells
Author Type(s)
Faculty
DOI
10.1152/ajprenal.00472.2020
Journal Title
American Journal of Physiology. Renal Physiology
First Page
245
Last Page
254
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
8-1-2021
Department
Pharmacology
Abstract
Large-conductance K+ (BK) channels expressed in intercalated cells (ICs) in the aldosterone-sensitive distal nephron (ASDN) mediate flow-induced K+ secretion. In the ASDN of mice and rabbits, IC BK channel expression and activity increase with a high-K+ diet. In cell culture, the long isoform of with-no-lysine kinase 1 (L-WNK1) increases BK channel expression and activity. Apical L-WNK1 expression is selectively enhanced in ICs in the ASDN of rabbits on a high-K+ diet, suggesting that L-WNK1 contributes to BK channel regulation by dietary K+. We examined the role of IC L-WNK1 expression in enhancing BK channel activity in response to a high-K+ diet. Mice with IC-selective deletion of L-WNK1 (IC-L-WNK1-KO) and littermate control mice were placed on a high-K+ (5% K+, as KCl) diet for 10 or more days. IC-L-WNK1-KO mice exhibited reduced IC apical + subapical α-subunit expression and BK channel-dependent whole cell currents compared with controls. Six-hour urinary K+ excretion in response a saline load was similar in IC-L-WNK1-KO mice and controls. The observations that IC-L-WNK1-KO mice on a high-K+ diet have higher blood K+ concentration and reduced IC BK channel activity are consistent with impaired urinary K+ secretion, demonstrating that IC L-WNK1 has a role in the renal adaptation to a high-K+ diet.NEW & NOTEWORTHY When mice are placed on a high-K+ diet, genetic disruption of the long form of with no lysine kinase 1 (L-WNK1) in intercalated cells reduced relative apical + subapical localization of the large-conductance K+ channel, blunted large-conductance K+ channel currents in intercalated cells, and increased blood K+ concentration. These data confirm an in vivo role of L-WNK1 in intercalated cells in adaptation to a high-K+ diet.
Recommended Citation
Ray, E. C., Carrisoza-Gaytan, R., Al-Bataineh, M., Marciszyn, A. L., Nkashama, L. J., Chen, J., Winfrey, A., Griffiths, S., Lam, T. R., Flores, D., Wu, P., Wang, W., Huang, C., Subramanya, A. R., Kleyman, T. R., & Satlin, L. M. (2021). L-WNK1 is Required for BK Channel Activation in Intercalated Cells. American Journal of Physiology. Renal Physiology, 321 (2), 245-254. https://doi.org/10.1152/ajprenal.00472.2020
