The V-ATPase is expressed in the choroid plexus and mediates cAMP-induced intracellular pH alterations.

The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pH influences brain interstitial pH and, therefore, brain function. We hypothesized that the choroid plexus epithelium (CPE) expresses the vacuolar H-ATPase (V-ATPase) as an acid extrusion mechanism in the luminal membrane to counteract detrimental elevations in CSF pH. The expression of mRNA corresponding to several V-ATPase subunits was demonstrated by RT-PCR analysis of CPE cells (CPECs) isolated by fluorescence-activated cell sorting. Immunofluorescence and electron microscopy localized the V-ATPase primarily in intracellular vesicles with only a minor fraction in the luminal microvillus area. The vesicles did not translocate to the luminal membrane in two in vivo models of hypocapnia-induced alkalosis. The Na-independent intracellular pH (pH) recovery from acidification was studied in freshly isolated clusters of CPECs. At extracellular pH (pH) 7.4, the cells failed to display significant concanamycin A-sensitive pH recovery (i.e., V-ATPase activity). The recovery rate in the absence of Na amounted to <10% of the pH recovery rate observed in the presence of Na Recovery of pH was faster at pH 7.8 and was abolished at pH 7.0. The concanamycin A-sensitive pH recovery was stimulated by cAMP at pH 7.4 in vitro, but intraventricular infusion of the membrane-permeant cAMP analog 8-CPT-cAMP did not result in trafficking of the V-ATPase. In conclusion, we find evidence for the expression of a minor fraction of V-ATPase in the luminal membrane of CPECs. This fraction does not contribute to enhanced acid extrusion at high extracellular pH, but seems to be activated by cAMP in a trafficking-independent manner.