Regulation of Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange in cultured human mesangial cells

Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange contributes to regulation of cytosolic free Ca2+ levels ([Ca2+]i) of cultured human mesangial cells following phospholipase C stimulation, as shown by larger responses to vasoconstrictors such as angiotensin II (ANG II) or endothelin 1 in Na(+)-free media. In turn, previous activation of phospholipase C by vasoconstrictors significantly enhances the amplitude of the [Ca2+]i elevation induced by Na+ withdrawal. We studied the mechanisms of upregulation in monolayer cultures loaded with the fluorescent Ca(2+)-sensitive probe fura-2. The exchanger was stimulated by insulin and inhibited by chronic exposure to serum. A rise of [Ca2+]i was not sufficient per se to enhance exchange activity, as prior elevation of [Ca2+]i with the ionophores ionomycin or 8-bromo-A23187 failed to augment the response to Na+ withdrawal. Protein kinase C (PKC) activation by phorbol 12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA), alone or in combination with a rise of [Ca2+]i, potently inhibited basal and vasoconstrictor-enhanced Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange. Suppression of the effects of ANG II was not due to frustrated phospholipase C activation by PMA, because addition of PMA after ANG II also inhibited Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange. PKC downregulation by 24-h pretreatment with PMA or inhibition with 1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine or staurosporine did not prevent activation by ANG II. The exchanger was markedly potentiated by Na+ loading the cells with gramicidin D or reducing extracellular K+. ANG II failed to stimulate Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange when added in the absence of extracellular Na+. Therefore vasoconstrictors promote Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange by a mechanism independent of [Ca2+]i and PKC while presumably linked to Na+ influx.