Activation of the basolateral membrane Cl- conductance essential for electrogenic K+ secretion suppresses electrogenic Cl- secretion.

Adrenaline activates transient Cl(-) secretion and sustained K(+) secretion across isolated distal colonic mucosa of guinea-pigs. The Ca(2+)-activated Cl(-) channel inhibitor CaCCinh-A01 (30 μm) significantly reduced electrogenic K(+) secretion, detected as short-circuit current (I(sc)). This inhibition supported the cell model for K(+) secretion in which basolateral membrane Cl(-) channels provide an exit pathway for Cl(-) entering the cell via Na(+)-K(+)-2Cl(-) cotransporters. CaCCinh-A01 inhibited both I(sc) and transepithelial conductance in a concentration-dependent manner (IC(50) = 6.3 μm). Another Cl(-) channel inhibitor, GlyH-101, also reduced sustained adrenaline-activated I(sc) (IC(50) = 9.4 μm). Adrenaline activated whole-cell Cl(-) current in isolated intact colonic crypts, confirmed by ion substitution. This adrenaline-activated whole-cell Cl(-) current was also inhibited by CaCCinh-A01 or GlyH-101. In contrast to K(+) secretion, CaCCinh-A01 augmented the electrogenic Cl(-) secretion activated by adrenaline as well as that activated by prostaglandin E(2). Synergistic Cl(-) secretion activated by cholinergic/prostaglandin E(2) stimulation was insensitive to CaCCinh-A01. Colonic expression of the Ca(2+)-activated Cl(-) channel protein Tmem16A was supported by RT-PCR detection of Tmem16A mRNA, by immunoblot with a Tmem16A antibody, and by detection of immunofluorescence in lateral membranes of epithelial cells. Alternative splices of Tmem16A were detected for exons that are involved in channel activation. Inhibition of K(+) secretion and augmentation of Cl(-) secretion by CaCCinh-A01 support a common colonic cell model for these two ion secretory processes, such that activation of basolateral membrane Cl(-) channels contributes to the production of electrogenic K(+) secretion and limits the rate of Cl(-) secretion. Maximal physiological Cl(-) secretion occurs only for synergistic activation mechanisms that close these basolateral membrane Cl(-) channels.