SGK integrates insulin and mineralocorticoid regulation of epithelial sodium transport

J Wang, P Barbry, AC Maiyar… - American Journal …, 2001 - journals.physiology.org
J Wang, P Barbry, AC Maiyar, DJ Rozansky, A Bhargava, M Leong, GL Firestone, D Pearce
American Journal of Physiology-Renal Physiology, 2001journals.physiology.org
The epithelial Na+ channel (ENaC) constitutes the rate-limiting step for Na+ transport across
tight epithelia and is the principal target of hormonal regulation, particularly by insulin and
mineralocorticoids. Recently, the serine-threonine kinase (SGK) was identified as a rapidly
mineralocorticoid-responsive gene, the product of which stimulates ENaC-mediated Na+
transport. Like its close relative, protein kinase B (also called Akt), SGK's kinase activity is
dependent on phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), a key mediator of insulin signaling. In …
The epithelial Na+ channel (ENaC) constitutes the rate-limiting step for Na+ transport across tight epithelia and is the principal target of hormonal regulation, particularly by insulin and mineralocorticoids. Recently, the serine-threonine kinase (SGK) was identified as a rapidly mineralocorticoid-responsive gene, the product of which stimulates ENaC-mediated Na+ transport. Like its close relative, protein kinase B (also called Akt), SGK's kinase activity is dependent on phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), a key mediator of insulin signaling. In our study we show that PI3K is required for SGK-dependent stimulation of ENaC-mediated Na+ transport as well as for the production of the phosphorylated form of SGK. In A6 kidney cells, mineralocorticoid induction of the phosphorylated form of SGK preceded the increase in Na+ transport, and specific inhibition of PI3K inhibited both phosphorylation of SGK and mineralocorticoid-induced Na+ transport. Insulin both augmented SGK phosphorylation and synergized with mineralocorticoids in stimulating Na+ transport. In a Xenopus laevisoocyte coexpression assay, SGK-stimulated ENaC activity was also markedly reduced by PI3K inhibition. Finally, in vitro-translated SGK specifically interacted with the ENaC subunits expressed inEscherichia coli as glutathione S-transferase fusion proteins. These data suggest that SGK is a PI3K-dependent integrator of insulin and mineralocorticoid actions that interacts with ENaC subunits to control Na+ entry into kidney collecting duct cells.
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