KS-WNK1 is required for the renal response to extreme changes in potassium intake

Kidney-specific with-no-lysine kinase 1 (KS-WNK1) is an isoform of WNK1 kinase that is predominantly found in the distal convoluted tubule of the kidney. The precise physiological function of KS-WNK1 remains unclear. Some studies have suggested that it could play a role in regulating potassium renal excretion by modulating the activity of the Na⁺-Cl^- cotransporter (NCC). However, changes in the potassium diet from normal to high failed to reveal a role for KS-WNK1, but under a normal-potassium diet, the expression of KS-WNK1 is negligible. It is only detectable when mice are exposed to a low-potassium diet. In this study, we investigated the role of KS-WNK1 in regulating potassium excretion under extreme changes in potassium intake. After following a zero-potassium diet (0KD) for 10 days, KS-WNK1^-/- mice had lower plasma levels of K⁺ and Cl^- while exhibiting higher urinary excretion of Na⁺, Cl^-, and K⁺ compared with KS-WNK1^+/+ mice. After 10 days of 0KD or normal-potassium diet (NKD), all mice were challenged with a high-potassium diet (HKD). Plasma K⁺ levels markedly increased after the HKD challenge only in mice previously fed with 0KD, regardless of genotype. KSWNK1^+/+ mice adapt better to HKD challenge than KS-WNK1^-/- mice after a potassium-retaining state. The difference in the phosphorylated NCC-to-NCC ratio between KS-WNK1^+/+ and KS-WNK1^-/- mice after 0KD and HKD indicates a role for KS-WNK1 in both NCC phosphorylation and dephosphorylation. These observations show that KS-WNK1 helps the distal convoluted tubule to respond to extreme changes in potassium intake, such as those occurring in wildlife.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The findings of this study demonstrate that kidney-specific with-no-lysine kinase 1 plays a role in regulating urinary electrolyte excretion during extreme changes in potassium intake, such as those occurring in wildlife.  .