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1From the Laboratory of Experimental Optometry, Department of Optometry and Radiography, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong; and the 2Department of Physiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
| Abstract |
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METHODS. Fresh native bovine CBE preparation was mounted in a modified Ussing chamber. The effects of cAMP-stimulating agents on short-circuit current (Isc) and net 36Cl secretion were determined.
RESULTS. Addition of cAMP-stimulating agents inhibited net Cl secretion. Forskolin, when added bilaterally, reduced Cl secretion by 60%. Similarly, bilateral isoproterenol or vasoactive intestinal peptide inhibited Cl transport by 15% and 37%, respectively, suggesting a cAMP-sensitive Cl transport across the ciliary epithelium. This notion was supported by the exogenous application of 8-bromo-cAMP (8-Br-cAMP) or 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX), which reduced the net Cl secretion by 49% and 85%, respectively. In unstimulated preparations, addition of 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino)-benzoic acid (NPPB) to the blood side had no effects on Isc and net Cl transport, indicating that Cl reabsorption was negligible under baseline conditions. Also, pretreatment with NPPB from the blood side did not prevent forskolin-induced Isc inhibition, suggesting that the inhibition of Cl transport did not result from the facilitation of Cl reabsorption. However, pretreatment with heptanol from both sides completely blocked the forskolin-induced Isc inhibition, suggesting that cAMP may reduce Cl transport by uncoupling the intercellular gap junctions.
CONCLUSIONS. The results suggest that cAMP plays a crucial role in modulating Cl secretion across the ciliary epithelium. The effect is possibly mediated, at least in part, by the regulation of the permeability of gap junctions between pigmented and nonpigmented ciliary epithelial cells.
Many signaling pathways may contribute to the regulation of the formation of aqueous humor.2 3 Adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) is an important second messenger responsible for the regulation of aqueous humor formation and IOP. Agents such as isoproterenol (a ß-adrenergic agonist), forskolin (a direct activator of adenylate cyclase), and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) have been shown to stimulate cAMP formation in the ciliary processes of human4 and rabbit.5 These cAMP-stimulating agents exert considerable effects on the formation of aqueous humor, and thereby on IOP, in both experimental animals and humans. For example, isoproterenol significantly stimulates formation of aqueous humor when injected into the anterior chamber of monkey eyes.6 Similarly, administration of VIP either intracamerally or intravenously increases aqueous humor formation in the same species.7 In addition, it has been shown that forskolin and cAMP enhance the regulatory volume decrease (RVD) and trigger shrinkage of human nonpigmented epithelial (NPE) cells under isosmotic conditions.8 In isolated dog NPE cells, forskolin and cAMP induce a Cl current along with a concomitant decrease in cell volume.9 These findings suggest that stimulation of cAMP formation facilitates ion transport to the posterior chamber, resulting in an increased rate of formation of aqueous humor. On the contrary, it has been demonstrated that topical isoproterenol decreases the formation of aqueous humor and IOP in human.10 Topical and intravitreal administration of forskolin or VIP reduce aqueous humor formation and IOP among different species, including rabbit, monkey, and human.11 12 13 14 Moreover, forskolin and isoproterenol have been shown not only to reduce the formation of aqueous humor and IOP, but also to increase the cAMP concentration in aqueous humor.15 16 These opposing findings cast considerable doubt on the precise role of cAMP in regulating the formation of aqueous humor.
Transepithelial Cl secretion across the ciliary epithelium probably plays an important role in the formation of aqueous humor among different species, including ox17 18 19 and rabbit.20 21 In the present study, we investigated the effects mediated by cAMP on both electrical parameters and Cl transport. This information may be useful in understanding the mechanisms that regulate the formation of aqueous humor.
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37°C. A dual-voltage clamp unit (DVC-1000; World Precision Instruments, Sarasota, FL) was used to monitor the electrical parameters of the preparation. The potential difference (PD) across the preparation was recorded with a pair of Ag/AgCl cartridge electrodes (EKV; World Precision Instruments) filled with 154 mM NaCl polyacrylamide gel. Before mounting the preparation, the blank resistance of the chamber (in the absence of tissue) was measured and compensated. Then, the preparation was mounted and monitored for measurement of the electrical parameters. A pharmacological agent was added to the chamber only when PD was stable for at least 15 minutes. Thereafter, the preparation was allowed to equilibrate until the full effect of the agent on the electrical parameters was shown. A simultaneous plot of Isc was used to monitor the viability of the preparation. The unidirectional 36Cl fluxes were determined under short-circuited conditions, which effectively eliminate the electrical driving force of passive diffusion, while maintaining the primary active ion transport.22 To minimize the variability between individual eyes, only those data from preparations of the same eye were compared. This was achieved by mounting two preparations from the same eye: one preparation was used for the measurement of influx (Jba: blood-to-aqueous), and the other preparation was mounted in another chamber for backflux measurement (Jab: aqueous-to-blood). The net flux was calculated in terms of the difference between Jba and Jab. In other words, a single net flux data point was obtained from each eye. For the flux measurements, perfusates from either side of the preparation were collected separately at 12-minute intervals; at least three to four consecutive samples were taken. The radioactivity of the samples was measured with a liquid scintillation counter (Wallac 1414 Winspectral DSA; Wallac, Helsinki, Finland) after being mixed with 15 mL of scintillation cocktail (NBCS104; Amersham Radiochemicals, UK). The mean flux was calculated from the average value of the consecutive samples, and its value was expressed in microequivalents per hour per square centimeter (µEq · h1 · cm2). All the solutions were freshly prepared. The control HCO3-containing Ringer solution composed of (in mM) NaCl 113.0, KCl 4.6, NaHCO3 21.0, MgSO4 0.6, D-glucose 7.5, glutathione (reduced form) 1.0, Na2HPO4 1.0, HEPES 10.0, and CaCl2 1.4. The solution was bubbled with 95% O2-5% CO2 for 15 minutes, and the pH was adjusted to 7.4 before use. Then, the solution was loaded into the syringes immediately so that the desired concentration of HCO3 could be maintained. Isoproterenol, forskolin, 1,9-dideoxyforskolin, VIP, 8-bromo-cAMP (8-Br-cAMP), bumetanide, DIDS (4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid), and IBMX (3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine) were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich (St. Louis, MO), and NPPB (5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino)-benzoic acid) was obtained from Biomol Research (Plymouth Meeting, PA). Heptanol was purchased from Fluka Chemie (Buchs, Switzerland), and Na36Cl in aqueous solution was obtained from Amersham (Arlington Heights, IL). The 36Cl activity in Ringer solution was adjusted to 0.25 µCi · mL1. Some chemicals were dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) before they were added to the Ringer solution. The final concentration of DMSO in the Ringer solution was adjusted to less than 0.1%, the level at which it was shown not to affect either electrical parameters or Cl transport.
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| Discussion |
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Stimulation of cAMP production is observed with isoproterenol, forskolin, or VIP in both rabbit and human ciliary processes.4 5 It has been demonstrated that these cAMP-stimulating agents reduce the formation of aqueous humor and IOP,10 11 12 whereas other studies have found the opposite effects.6 7 In the present study, we found that these agents reduced the transepithelial Cl transport, suggesting a cAMP-sensitive Cl secretion across the ciliary epithelium. Forskolin was shown to be more effective in reducing Cl transport than VIP or isoproterenol. This was consistent with other studies in which forskolin elicited a larger stimulation of cAMP formation than VIP or isoproterenol.4 5 This was also supported by the experiments in which 1,9-dideoxyforskolin, a forskolin analogue that did not stimulate adenylate cyclase and thereby cAMP formation had no effect on Isc. These findings imply that the inhibition of Cl transport may be due to the stimulation of cAMP formation. The notion of cAMP-sensitive Cl transport was strengthened by the experiments in which 8-Br-cAMP or IBMX caused a significant inhibition of both electrical parameters and net Cl secretion, supporting an inhibitory effect of cAMP on Cl transport across the bovine CBE. It also indicates that bovine CBE is a good model for humans, since cAMP or cAMP-stimulating agents can reduce the formation of aqueous humor in both cases. Our result was consistent with the finding that terbutaline, a ß-adrenergic agonist, decreases the rate of formation of aqueous humor in the arterially perfused bovine eyes.25 It has been shown that the administration of either ß-adrenergic agonists or antagonists lowers IOP by reducing the rate of aqueous secretion.12 26 Timolol, a ß-adrenergic antagonist, has been commonly used in glaucoma treatment to lower IOP by reducing the rate of formation of aqueous humor. However, the precise mechanisms of the action are not known. It has been shown that timolol reduces endogenous cAMP formation5 ; however, whether the hypotensive effects are primarily mediated by the effects on cAMP remains unclear.27 28 Given that cAMP inhibits net Cl secretion across the bovine CBE, our results are consistent with the recent findings that timolol may act through cAMP-independent pathways in mediating its hypotensive effect.27 The profound inhibitory effect of IBMX on Cl secretion (
85%) may suggest the involvement of other signaling cascades in the regulation of Cl transport. Apart from the stimulation of cAMP formation, blockade of phosphodiesterase with IBMX elicited a simultaneous stimulation of intracellular cGMP production, which may provide an alternative pathway for the regulation of aqueous humor secretion (unpublished observation). Taken together, these results suggest that cAMP is a key second messenger in the regulation of Cl secretion across the bovine CBE.
It has been shown that cAMP activates the Na+,K+,2Cl cotransporter in PE cells21 and stimulates Cl efflux in NPE cells.9 29 30 Presumably if cAMP activates the Na+,K+,2Cl cotransporter in PE cells and/or Cl channels in NPE cells, a stimulation of Isc and Cl transport would be expected. In contrast, we have observed an inhibition of Isc and Cl secretion by cAMP, suggesting that cAMP may play a minor role, if any, in the activation of Na+,K+,2Cl cotransporter in PE cells and/or Cl channels in NPE cells in this bovine preparation. Our finding was consistent with a study of isolated bovine NPE cells, where Cl conductance was unaffected by adrenergic stimulation, although the intracellular cAMP formation was increased.31 This result was different from a recent study of isolated rabbit ciliary epithelial bilayer in which isoproterenol increased the net blood-to-aqueous Cl flux.21 The exact reason for the discrepancy is unclear, but species difference may contribute to the observed differences.
The net Cl secretion can be inhibited by increasing unidirectional Cl reabsorption. Adenylate cyclase has been more abundantly found in NPE cells than in PE cells.32 Administration of VIP elicits a larger stimulation of intracellular cAMP production in NPE than in PE cells.33 Additional evidence for the presence of Na+,K+,2Cl cotransporter in NPE cells34 and Cl channels in PE cells35 36 has been described. The Na+, K+, 2Cl cotransporter in NPE cells has been shown to be stimulated by either ß-adrenergic agonist37 or forskolin.38 Most recently, it has been demonstrated that cAMP stimulates whole-cell Cl currents and activates maxi-Cl channels in cultured and native bovine PE cells.35 36 Therefore, it is likely that cAMP reduces the net Cl transport by increasing the Cl reabsorption through the activation of Na+,K+,2Cl cotransporter in NPE cells and/or Cl channels in PE cells. Addition of bumetanide to the aqueous side or of Cl channels blockers to the blood side presumably decreases Cl uptake from the posterior chamber by NPE cells or Cl efflux into the ciliary stroma by PE cells. This may lead to the reduction of unidirectional Cl reabsorption, as reflected by an increase of Isc and net Cl secretion. However, none of these transport inhibitors stimulated the Isc under unstimulated conditions. In contrast, bumetanide reduced the Isc by approximately 40%, which may reflect a decreased Cl uptake into the NPE cells and eventually reduce the net Cl secretion into the posterior chamber. Similarly, addition of NPPB to the blood side had no effect on net Cl secretion, suggesting the lack of Cl reabsorption under baseline conditions. Although NPPB from the blood side did not affect the baseline Isc, subsequent addition of forskolin caused a significant inhibition of Isc, suggesting that the inhibition of Cl transport with cAMP does not result solely from the facilitation of Cl reabsorption.35
It is plausible that cAMP reduces Cl secretion across the CBE by uncoupling the intercellular gap junctions between PE and NPE cells. As in other studies of the ciliary body preparation,18 39 addition of heptanol to both sides produced a significant inhibition of Isc by 60% to 80%. Pretreatment with heptanol, however, did not affect the biphasic effect of ouabain on Isc. In the presence of heptanol, ouabain triggered a rapid stimulation of Isc followed by a gradual and complete inhibition of Isc. This experiments result is important in two aspects: It suggests that (1) the Na+,K+-activated adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) remains functionally intact after heptanol treatment and that (2) when the ion transfer between PE and NPE cells is blocked by heptanol, inhibition of other ion transport elements could still be detected by Isc. To investigate whether cAMP acts on the gap junctions in ciliary epithelium, we studied the sequential effect of heptanol and forskolin on Isc. A significant inhibition of Isc was observed (
60%) when heptanol was added to the preparation bilaterally. Subsequent addition of forskolin to these preparations produced no further inhibition of Isc, suggesting an uncoupling effect of cAMP on intercellular gap junctions. It is possible that the uncoupling of gap junctions inhibits the ion transfer between pigmented epithelial (PE) and NPE cells, regardless of the mechanism of regulation. However, this is unlikely because the biphasic response of ouabain on Isc was preserved even in a heptanol-treated preparation. Our result was in agreement with a study in which cAMP was shown to uncouple the gap junctions in rabbit corneal epithelium.40 It has been shown that isoproterenol and forskolin induce a rapid phosphorylation of connexin43 located between PE and NPE cells.41 Whether this is associated with the regulation of gap junction permeability is unclear and awaits further investigation.
In our study, cAMP inhibited the net Cl transport across the ciliary epithelium, potentially reducing the formation of aqueous humor. The effect of cAMP is probably linked to the regulation of permeability of intercellular gap junctions between PE and NPE cells.
| Acknowledgements |
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| Footnotes |
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Submitted for publication December 12, 2003; revised June 4, 2004; accepted June 8, 2004.
Disclosure: C.-W. Do, None; C.-W. Kong, None; C.-H. To, None
The publication costs of this article were defrayed in part by page charge payment. This article must therefore be marked "advertisement" in accordance with 18 U.S.C.
1734 solely to indicate this fact.
Corresponding author: Chi-Ho To, Department of Optometry and Radiography, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong; orchto{at}polyu.edu.hk.
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