| First Author | Boscardin E | Year | 2017 |
| Journal | Pflugers Arch | Volume | 469 |
| Issue | 10 | Pages | 1387-1399 |
| PubMed ID | 28567665 | Mgi Jnum | J:297358 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:6478095 | Doi | 10.1007/s00424-017-1990-2 |
| Citation | Boscardin E, et al. (2017) Severe hyperkalemia is rescued by low-potassium diet in renal betaENaC-deficient mice. Pflugers Arch 469(10):1387-1399 |
| abstractText | In adulthood, an induced nephron-specific deficiency of alphaENaC (Scnn1a) resulted in pseudohypoaldosteronism type 1 (PHA-1) with sodium loss, hyperkalemia, and metabolic acidosis that is rescued through high-sodium/low-potassium (HNa(+)/LK(+)) diet. In the present study, we addressed whether renal betaENaC expression is required for sodium and potassium balance or can be compensated by remaining (alpha and gamma) ENaC subunits using adult nephron-specific knockout (Scnn1b(Pax8/LC1)) mice. Upon induction, these mice present a severe PHA-1 phenotype with weight loss, hyperkalemia, and dehydration, but unlike the Scnn1a(Pax8/LC1) mice without persistent salt wasting. This is followed by a marked downregulation of STE20/SPS1-related proline-alanine-rich protein kinase (SPAK) and Na(+)/Cl(-) co-transporter (NCC) protein expression and activity. Most of the experimental Scnn1b(Pax8/LC1) mice survived with a HNa(+)/LK(+) diet that partly normalized NCC phosphorylation, but not total NCC expression. Since salt loss was minor, we applied a standard-sodium/LK(+) diet that efficiently rescued these mice resulting in normokalemia and normalization of NCC phosphorylation, but not total NCC expression. A further switch to LNa(+)/standard-K(+) diet induced again a severe PHA-1-like phenotype, but with only transient salt wasting indicating that low-K(+) intake is critical to decrease hyperkalemia in a NCC-dependent manner. In conclusion, while the betaENaC subunit plays only a minor role in sodium balance, severe hyperkalemia results in downregulation of NCC expression and activity. Our data demonstrate the importance to primarily correct the hyperkalemia with a low-potassium diet that normalizes NCC activity. |
