Downregulation of NCC and NKCC2 cotransporters by kidney-specific WNK1 revealed by gene disruption and transgenic mouse models

Abstract

WNK1 (with-no-lysine[K]-1) is a protein kinase of which mutations cause a familial hypertension and hyperkalemia syndrome known as pseudohypoaldosteronism type 2 (PHA2). Kidney-specific (KS) WNK1 is an alternatively spliced form of WNK1 kinase missing most of the kinase domain. KS-WNK1 downregulates the Na⁺-Cl⁻ cotransporter NCC by antagonizing the effect of full-length WNK1 when expressed in Xenopus oocytes. The physiological role of KS-WNK1 in the regulation of NCC and potentially other Na⁺ transporters in vivo is unknown. Here, we report that mice overexpressing KS-WNK1 in the kidney exhibited renal Na⁺ wasting, elevated plasma levels of angiotensin II and aldosterone yet lower blood pressure relative to wild-type littermates. Immunofluorescent staining revealed reduced surface expression of total and phosphorylated NCC and the Na⁺-K⁺-2Cl⁻ cotransporter NKCC2 in the distal convoluted tubule and the thick ascending limb of Henle's loop, respectively. Conversely, mice with targeted deletion of exon 4A (the first exon for KS-WNK1) exhibited Na⁺ retention, elevated blood pressure on a high-Na⁺ diet and increased surface expression of total and phosphorylated NCC and NKCC2 in respective nephron segments. Thus, KS-WNK1 is a negative regulator of NCC and NKCC2 in vivo and plays an important role in the control of Na⁺ homeostasis and blood pressure. These results have important implications to the pathogenesis of PHA2 with WNK1 mutations.