brush border microvilli ͉ cytosketal reorganization ͉ fluid shear stress ͉ proximal tubule epithelium ͉ tight junction
Normal variations in glomerular filtration induce proportional changes in proximal tubule Na ؉ reabsorption. This ''glomerulotubular balance'' derives from flow dependence of Na ؉ uptake across luminal cell membranes; however, the underlying physical mechanism is unknown. Our hypothesis is that flow-dependent reabsorption is an autoregulatory mechanism that is independent of neural and hormonal systems. It is signaled by the hydrodynamic torque (bending moment) on epithelial microvilli. Such signals need to be transmitted to the terminal web to modulate Na ؉ -H ؉ -exchange activity. To investigate this hypothesis, we examined Na ؉ transport and tubular diameter in response to different flow rates during the microperfusion of isolated S2 proximal tubules from mouse kidneys. The data were analyzed by using a mathematical model to estimate the microvillous torque as function of flow. In this model, increases in luminal diameter have the effect of blunting the impact of flow velocity on microvillous shear stress and, thus, microvillous torque. We found that variations in microvillous torque produce nearly identical fractional changes in Na ؉ reabsorption. Furthermore, the flow-dependent Na ؉ transport is increased by increasing luminal fluid viscosity, diminished in Na ؉ -H ؉ exchanger isoform 3 knockout mice, and abolished by nontoxic disruption of the actin cytoskeleton. These data support our hypothesis that the ''brush-border'' microvilli serve a mechanosensory function in which fluid dynamic torque is transmitted to the actin cytoskeleton and modulates Na ؉ absorption in kidney proximal tubules. glomerulotubular balance ͉ flow-dependent transport ͉ Na ϩ -H ϩ exchange
The mathematical model of rat proximal tubule has been extended to include calculation of microvillous torque and to incorporate torque-dependent solute transport in a compliant tubule. The torque calculation follows that of Du Z, Yan Q, Duan Y, Weinbaum S, Weinstein AM, and Wang T (Am J Physiol 290: F289-F296, 2006). In the model calculations, torque-dependent scaling of luminal membrane transporter density [either as an ensemble or just type 3 Na(+)/H(+) exchanger (NHE3) alone] had a relatively small impact on overall Na(+) reabsorption and could produce a lethal derangement of cell volume; coordinated regulation of luminal and peritubular transporters was required to represent the overall impact of luminal flow on Na(+) reabsorption. When the magnitude of torque-dependent Na(+) reabsorption in the model agrees with that observed in mouse proximal tubules, the model tubule shows nearly perfect perfusion-absorption balance at high luminal perfusion rates, but enhanced sensitivity of reabsorption at low flow. With a slightly lower coefficient for torque-sensitive transporter insertion, perfusion-absorption balance in the model tubule is closer to observations in the rat over a broader range of inlet flows. In simulation of hyperglycemia, torque-dependent transport attenuated the diuretic effect and brought the model tubule into closer agreement with experimental observation in the rat. The model was also extended to represent finite rates of hydration and dehydration of CO(2) and H(2)CO(3). With carbonic anhydrase inhibition, torque-dependent transport blunted the diuretic effect and enhanced the shift from paracellular to transcellular NaCl reabsorption. The new features of this model tubule are an important step toward simulation of glomerulotubular balance.
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