A key role for KCl cotransport in cell volume regulation in human erythroleukemia cells

AimsKCl cotransport is believed to be involved in volume regulation in various erythroid cells of vertebrates, although the mechanism of activation and the role of the signaling elements involved remain uncertain. In this study, we characterized KCl cotransport activated by hypo-osmotic stress, and clarified several signaling elements involved in the regulation of this pathway within the human erythroleukemia cell line K562.Main methodsThe Cl−-dependent K+ efflux (measured using 86Rb+) and regulatory volume decrease (RVD) from pre-loaded K562 cells subjected to hypo-osmotic challenge were measured in cells treated with/without KCl cotransport inhibitors [(dihydroindenyl)oxy]alkanoic acid (DIOA) and Ba2+. This Cl−-dependent K+ efflux has also been measured in cells treated with the phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (protein kinase C (PKC) activator), RO 31-8220 or calphostin C (PKC inhibitor), genistein (protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) inhibitor), PP2 (Src kinase inhibitor), AG18 or AG1478 (epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) kinase inhibitor), wortmannin or LY294002 (phosphatatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) inhibitor), or PD98059 (mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase inhibitor).Key findingsCl−-dependent K+ efflux was strongly stimulated by hypo-osmotic challenge and this increased K+ efflux was mediated by the DIOA- and Ba2+-sensitive KCl cotransport. RO 31-8220, calphostin C, genistein, PP2, AG18, AG1478, wortmannin, LY294002 and PD98059 were shown to significantly inhibit or stimulate the activity of this pathway.SignificanceOur results suggest that the hypo-osmotically-activated KCl cotransport is an important regulator of K562 cell volume, and the activity of this pathway is modulated by PKC, PTK, PI 3-kinase and/or MAP kinases.