Effects of a short-chain phospholipid on ion transport pathways in rabbit nasal airway epithelium.

M Röpke, M Hansen, S Carstens, P Christensen, G Danielsen, O Frederiksen

Index: Am. J. Physiol. 271(4 Pt 1) , L646-55, (1996)

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Abstract

We investigated the mechanism of interference of mucosal application of the short-chain phospholipid didecanoyl-L-alpha-phosphatidylcholine (DDPC; 0.1-0.5%) with ion transport pathways in isolated rabbit nasal airway epithelium (RNAE). Transports of Na+ and Cl- were evaluated from tracer ion fluxes, short-circuit current (Isc), and epithelial conductance (Gt) under short-circuit conditions in Ussing chambers. DDPC rapidly and reversibly abolished net Na+ absorption, reduced control Isc (approximately 110 microA/cm2) by approximately 80%, and induced a small Cl secretion. Intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) increased dose dependently and transiently (measured by fura 2 in cultured rabbit airway epithelium), but ionomycin failed to mimic the decrease in Isc. The rise in [Ca2+]i may explain a Ba(2+)-sensitive transient activation of a basolateral K+ conductance. Indomethacin-sensitive prostaglandin E2 production in RNAE increased severalfold, but cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase inhibitors did not prevent DDPC-induced changes in Isc. DDPC initially decreased control Gt (approximately 13 mS/cm2) by approximately 25% due to inhibition of amiloride-sensitive Na+ channels, and then reversibly increased Gt to approximately 45% above control values. Passive Na+ fluxes increased more than Cl fluxes, suggesting that the increase in Gt is due to formation of a paracellular shunt conductance in parallel with unaffected, anion-selective tight junction channels. The results suggest that DDPC inhibits apical membrane Na+ channels and causes structural changes in tight junctions after incorporation in apical cell membranes.