Adenosine stimulates sodium transport in kidney A6 epithelia in culture

The effects of adenosine receptor agonists and antagonists were examined in epithelia formed in culture by A6 cells, a continuous cell line derived from Xenopus laevis kidney. A6 epithelia have a high electrical resistance and a short-circuit current that is equal to net sodium flux from mucosal to serosal surface. Adenosine, 2-chloroadenosine, 5'-(N-ethyl)carboxamidoadenosine, and N6-(L-2-phenylisopropyl) adenosine produced concentration-dependent increases in short-circuit current. Stimulation of short-circuit current by 2-chloroadenosine occurred at concentrations of 0.05 microM and above, with half-maximal stimulation occurring at 0.3 microM. 5'-(N-ethyl)carboxamidoadenosine was more potent than N6-(L-2-phenylisopropyl)adenosine, the usual order of potency for activation of stimulatory adenosine receptors. Theophylline (100 microM), an adenosine receptor antagonist, reduced the short-circuit current response to adenosine and 2-chloroadenosine by 85-90%. Amiloride, an agent that inhibits both basal and adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP)-stimulated short-circuit current in A6 epithelia, completely and reversibly inhibited short-circuit current stimulated by 2-chloroadenosine. Adenosine and 2-chloroadenosine stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in a crude membrane preparation from A6 cells. Stimulation by adenosine was blocked by adenosine deaminase. 2-Chloroadenosine increased cell cAMP accumulation in intact epithelia. The results provide evidence that adenosine and adenosine receptor agonists stimulate adenylate cyclase and active sodium transport in an epithelial cell line of renal origin.