Deletion of renal Nedd4-2 abolishes the effect of high K intake on Kir4.1/Kir5.1 and NCC activity in the distal convoluted tubule.

High-dietary K (HK) intake inhibits basolateral Kir4.1/Kir5.1 activity in the distal convoluted tubule (DCT), and HK-induced inhibition of Kir4.1/Kir5.1 is essential for HK-induced inhibition of NaCl cotransporter (NCC). Here, we examined whether neural precursor cell expressed developmentally downregulated 4-2 (Nedd4-2) deletion compromises the effect of HK on basolateral Kir4.1/Kir5.1 and NCC in the DCT. Single-channel recording and whole cell recording showed that neither HK decreased nor low-dietary K (LK) increased basolateral Kir4.1/Kir5.1 activity of the DCT in kidney tubule-specific Nedd4-2 knockout (Ks-Nedd4-2 KO) mice. In contrast, HK inhibited and LK increased Kir4.1/Kir5.1 activity in control mice [neural precursor cell expressed developmentally downregulated 4-like ]. Also, HK intake decreased the negativity of K current reversal potential in the DCT (depolarization) only in control mice but not in Ks-Nedd4-2 KO mice. Renal clearance experiments showed that HK intake decreased, whereas LK intake increased, hydrochlorothiazide-induced renal Na excretion only in control mice, but this effect was absent in Ks-Nedd4-2 KO mice. Western blot analysis also demonstrated that HK-induced inhibition of phosphorylated NCC (Thr) and total NCC was observed only in control mice but not in Ks-Nedd4-2 KO mice. Furthermore, expression of all three subunits of the epithelial Na channel in Ks-Nedd4-2 KO mice on HK was higher than in control mice. Thus, plasma K concentrations were similar between and Ks-Nedd4-2 KO mice on HK for 7 days despite high NCC expression. We conclude that Nedd4-2 plays a role in regulating HK-induced inhibition of Kir4.1/Kir5.1 and NCC in the DCT. Basolateral Kir4.1/Kir5.1 in the distal convoluted tubule plays an important role as a "K sensor" in the regulation of renal K excretion after high K intake. We found that neural precursor cell expressed developmentally downregulated 4-2 (Nedd4-2) a role in mediating the effect of K diet on Kir4.1/Kir5.1 and NaCl cotransporter because high K intake failed to inhibit basolateral Kir4.1/Kir5.1 and NaCl cotransporter in kidney tubule-specific Nedd4-2 knockout mice.