The distinct roles of anion transporters Slc26a3 (DRA) and Slc26a6 (PAT-1) in fluid and electrolyte absorption in the murine small intestine

Abstract

The mixing of gastric and pancreatic juice subjects the jejunum to unique ionic conditions with high luminal CO₂ tension and HCO₃ ⁻ concentration. We investigated the role of the small intestinal apical anion exchangers PAT-1 (Slc26a6) and DRA (Slc26a3) in basal and CO₂/HCO₃ ⁻-stimulated jejunal fluid absorption. Single pass perfusion of jejunal segments was performed in anaesthetised wild type (WT) as well as in mice deficient in DRA, PAT-1, Na⁺/H⁺ exchanger 3 (NHE3) or NHE2, and in carbonic anhydrase II (CAII). Unbuffered saline (pH 7.4) perfusion of WT jejunum resulted in fluid absorption and acidification of the effluent. DRA-deficient jejunum absorbed less fluid than WT, and acidified the effluent more strongly, consistent with its action as a Cl⁻/HCO₃ ⁻ exchanger. PAT-1-deficient jejunum also absorbed less fluid but resulted in less effluent acidification. Switching the luminal solution to a 5 % CO₂/HCO₃ ⁻ buffered solution (pH 7.4), resulted in a decrease in jejunal enterocyte pH_i in all genotypes, an increase in luminal surface pH and a strong increase in fluid absorption in a PAT-1- and NHE3- but not DRA-, CAII, or NHE2-dependent fashion. Even in the absence of luminal Cl⁻, luminal CO₂/HCO₃ ⁻ augmented fluid absorption in WT, CAII, NHE2- or DRA-deficient, but not in PAT-1- or NHE3-deficient mice, indicating the likelihood that PAT-1 serves to import HCO₃ ⁻ and NHE3 serves to import Na⁺ under these circumstances. The results suggest that PAT-1 plays an important role in jejunal Na⁺HCO₃ ^– reabsorption, while DRA absorbs Cl⁻ and exports HCO₃ ⁻ in a partly CAII-dependent fashion. Both PAT-1 and DRA significantly contribute to intestinal fluid absorption and enterocyte acid/base balance but are activated by different ion gradients.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00424-013-1381-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Introduction

The pH profile of the small intestine has been measured in laboratory animals and humans by microelectrodes attached to the mucosa or by capsule radiotelemetry in the interdigestive as well as the postprandial state [29, 33]. The steepest pH gradient was found in the first 10 cm of the duodenum, where the pH increased from 2 to 5 in the interdigestive state and from 1.7 to 4.3 in the postprandial state [33]. Another pH increase occurs after the duodeno-jejunal junction, where intraluminal pH may become alkaline [29]. In addition, luminal CO₂ tension as well as HCO₃ ⁻ concentration is particularly high in the distal duodenum and proximal jejunum, where the acidic gastric juice mixes with the alkaline pancreatic juice. Thus the proximal jejunum is regularly exposed to a very unique luminal ionic composition, with high CO₂ tension, high HCO₃ ⁻ concentration, and relatively low Cl⁻ concentration (because pancreatic juice is low in Cl⁻).

Early in vivo studies in laboratory animals as well as in humans have observed marked differences in water and salt absorption between the jejunum and ileum, with the major part of jejunal absorption during saline perfusion being presumably due to passive diffusion [11, 12, 37]. On the other hand, bicarbonate was actively absorbed in the jejunum and caused stimulation of fluid absorption [47, 48]. This process was largely Na⁺-dependent and generated an increase of luminal CO₂, suggesting it to be mediated by luminal Na⁺/H⁺ exchange [47]. A Na⁺-independent component of human jejunal HCO₃ ⁻ absorption was described by Hubel [18] and in rat jejunum by Podesta and Mettrick [35]. No studies exist which have systematically studied the molecular candidates for jejunal bicarbonate-stimulated fluid absorption.

Current dogma envisions small intestinal fluid absorption to occur as an electroneutral process via the coordinated action of Na⁺/H⁺ and Cl⁻/HCO₃ ⁻ exchangers [20]. Isolated brush border membranes from the small intestine, mostly the ileum, of a variety of species displayed proton-driven Na⁺ uptake as well as HCO₃ ⁻-driven Cl⁻ uptake [21–24, 32]. Expression studies have identified several potential molecular candidates for these apical Na⁺/H⁺ and Cl⁻/HCO₃ ⁻ exchangers. In murine jejunum, the Na⁺/H⁺ exchanger (NHE) isoforms NHE3 and NHE2 are expressed in a villus-predominant apical localization [5, 17]. The Slc26 anion transporter family members Slc26a6 (putative anion transporter-1 [PAT-1]) and Slc26a3 (downregulated in adenoma [DRA]) are co-localized with these NHEs in jejunal villi. However, the expression levels of DRA and PAT-1 display inverse gradients along the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of rodents and man, with PAT-1 showing a particularly strong expression in the upper small intestine, and very low expression in the colon [51].

Both DRA [10, 25, 26, 30] and PAT-1 appeared to function as Cl⁻/HCO₃ ⁻ exchangers in expression systems [9, 14, 39]. While this suggested that both DRA and PAT-1 may work in parallel to absorb Cl⁻ [20], this concept was challenged by a number of observations: First, controversial results were obtained regarding the stoichiometry of Cl⁻ and HCO₃ ⁻ coupling for these exchangers, with some data indicating the electroneutrality of the exchange [2, 9, 25, 26], while others suggesting a 2:1 coupling of Cl⁻ and HCO₃ ⁻ for DRA and the opposite for PAT-1 [39]. Second, the intracellular pH (pH_i) of DRA-deficient duodenal villous enterocytes was found to be higher than wild type (WT), while that of PAT-1-deficient enterocytes was lower than WT enterocytes in isolated sheets of duodenal mucosa [50], suggesting that during the conditions of those experiments, the two transporters may transport HCO₃ ⁻ in opposite directions. In addition, the role of PAT-1 in Cl⁻ absorption was relatively small in isolated murine jejunal mucosa [38, 50]. PAT-1 also has been linked to oxalate secretion into the intestinal lumen [13], but this function fails to explain the high expression of PAT-1 in the upper small intestine, in particular since DRA has been shown to function as an oxalate absorber in the lower intestine [15]. Taken together, these findings indicated that the physiological significance for the very high expression of PAT-1 in the upper small intestine has yet to be clarified.

Carbonic anhydrase II (CAII) binds to PAT-1 in expression systems, and the mutation of the CAII binding site of PAT-1 strongly decreased PAT-1 transport activity [3]. In isolated small intestinal mucosa, the measurement of Cl⁻/HCO₃ ⁻ exchange in the presence of the dipeptide Gly-Sar (which is transported coupled to protons via PEPT1 in small intestine) revealed an increased rate of Cl⁻ _(OUT)/HCO₃ ⁻ _(IN) exchange that was both PAT-1 dependent and CAII dependent [41]. To better understand the role of CAII in small intestinal transport physiology, we therefore also included CAII KO mice in the analysis.

It is known that the small intestine not only absorbs NaCl and fluid, but also reabsorbs large quantities of HCO₃ ⁻ [47]. The loss of this function, i.e., in patients with an enterostomy, can precipitate severe dysfunctions in systemic acid/base balance that cannot be compensated for by the kidneys and may result in renal stone formation, kidney failure, and osteopenia [52]. The molecular mechanisms of small intestinal HCO₃ ⁻ reabsorption have not been clarified in detail, and this study was designed to close this gap. Utilizing knockout (KO) mice for NHE2 and NHE3, as well as for PAT-1, DRA and CAII, jejunal segments of artificially ventilated mice with systemically controlled acid/base balance were perfused with prewarmed solutions of known controlled compositions. Thereafter, the changes in volume and pH of the outflowing solutions were determined. Fluorometric measurements of microdissected jejunal villi loaded with the pH indicator BCECF were used for in vitro pH_i measurements, and two-photon microscopy of exteriorised, vascularly perfused jejunal mucosa in anaesthetised mice was performed for in vivo pH_i assessment during the conditions of these experiments.

Materials and methods

Animals and ethics

All experiments involving animals were approved by the Hannover Medical School Committee on investigations involving animals and an independent committee assembled by the local authorities. Experiments were performed with WT and gene deficient KO mouse models of Slc26a3 (DRA), Slc26a6 (PAT-1), Slc9a3 (NHE3), Slc9a2 (NHE2) and CAII. The origin of these mice is indicated elsewhere [38, 43, 44]. Mice were bred at the animal care facility of Hannover Medical School under standard temperature and light conditions and were allowed free access to food and water. The DRA, PAT-1, NHE3 and CAII WT and KO mice were congenic on C57BL/6N background, whereas the NHE2 WT and KO mice were congenic on NMRI background. The DRA mice KO were fed a special diet (Altromin, Lage, Germany, Cat. no. C0197) and drinking water containing (KCl 10 mM, NaCl 7.5 mM, sodium citrate 5 mM and sucrose 35 mM), which enables survival beyond weaning. The NHE3 KO mice were also fed a special diet (Altromin, Cat. no. 1057). The special diet was introduced to the respective WT at least 2 weeks prior to the experiments, or, if feasible, the special diet was removed prior to the experiments, and WT and KO mice were fed the same diet. Care was taken to ensure an approximately equal number of male and female pairs of WT and KO mice in each group of experiments. All experiments were performed in mice aged between 10–16 weeks. We tried to use littermates, if that was not possible we used WT mice of similar age/gender, from the same grandparental lineage. Genotyping was performed from tail or ear tissues as described, and the primer sequences are given in the Supplementary files.

Quantitative PCR protocol

RNA isolation as well as the PCR followed published protocols [6], with further details given in the Supplementary files.

Histology and immunostaining

Tissue processing for cryofixation and NHE3 immunostaining, as well as the quantitative analysis of the NHE3 localization along the micovillar length, was performed exactly as previously described, and care was taken to image the WT and KO sections at identical settings of the confocal microscope [28].

In vivo fluid absorptive rate and effluent pH measurements

Surgical procedures

The mice were anaesthetised by isoflurane (Forene, Abbott Germany, Wiesbaden, Germany) via tracheal intubation connecting to the mechanical ventilator (MiniVent Type 845; Hugo Sachs Electronik, March-Hugstetten, Germany). The surgical procedure was performed exactly as described for the duodenum [45, 46],with the following modification: after the middle incision in the abdomen, about a 3-cm length of proximal jejunum with an intact blood supply was selected for the experiments. The jejunum was perfused (Gilson minipulse evolution, Villiers, France) at a rate of 30 ml h⁻¹ and the effluent collected for further use. Blood was sampled from the carotid artery catheter for blood gas analysis, as described [45]. The blood gas values at the end of the experiment are given in Table S2 for the PAT-1 WT and KO mice, and the NHE3 WT and KO mice, and has already been published for the DRA KO mice [44] and the CAII KO mice [27, 46].

Measurement of jejunal fluid absorptive rates

Measurement of fluid absorption was performed as described previously [44, 45, 53], with modifications. The perfusion rate was 30 ml h⁻¹ in a single pass manner to ensure optimal expansion of the jejunal lumen. Water loss by evaporation due to gassing at 37°C was measured simultaneously in another aliquot which was equally treated, but not perfused through the mouse intestine, and accounted for in the calculation. The fluid absorption rates (μl cm⁻¹ h⁻¹) were calculated according to the absorptive fluid loss (taking density of fluid roughly at about 1 mg ml⁻¹), jejunal length (cm) and perfusion time (h). The composition of the perfusate solutions is given in Table S1.

Measurement of pH values of effluent solutions

Before perfusion, the unbuffered perfusate solutions were adjusted to the pH of 7.4 in a 37°C water bath by using pH-stat microtitration (Radiometer, Copenhagen). After 20 min perfusion, the pH values of effluent solutions were measured. The pH values of the residual perfusate solutions on the inflow side were also measured to assess pH drifts. The difference between the pH of an effluent solution and its corresponding residual perfusate solution was used to evaluate the acidification or alkalinisation of effluent.

Fluorometric pH_i measurements of jejunocytes in intact jejunal villi

Preparation of isolated jejunal villi for fluorometry and pH measurements were performed exactly as previously described [7], except for the use of different solutions and protocols. The buffer solutions are: For the experiments described in Figs. 6, 7, 8, S1, S2, S3 and Table S3, the buffer solutions are: Buffer A (solution composition in mM: 130 NaCl, 10 Hepes, 5 Tris, 2.25 KH₂PO₄, 1.5 K₂HPO₄, 1.2 MgSO₄, 1.2 Ca gluconate, pH 7.4 gassed with oxygen) or buffer A containing 10 mM glucose (replacing 10 mM NaCl) for 20 min for a stable baseline reading, then switch and buffer B [solution composition in mM: 108 NaCl, 22 NaHCO₃, 10 Hepes, 5 Tris, 2.25 KH₂PO₄, 1.5 K₂HPO₄, 1.2 MgSO₄, 1.2 Ca gluconate, pH 7.4 gassed with carbogen (5 % CO₂–95% O₂)] or buffer B containing 10 mM glucose (replacing 10 mM NaCl). Steady-state pH_i (shown in Figs. S1, 7 and 8, and Table S3) was determined as described previously [7]. For experiments shown in Fig. S2, the microdissected villi were perfused with prewarmed oxygenated buffer A for 20 min for a stable baseline reading, then the perfusate was switched to buffer B and further readings were taken for 10 min. Steady-state pH was determined as previously described [7]. Approximately two to three villi were measured per experiment, and the results of these measurements averaged for each mouse; n is the number of mice.

Fig. 6.

Switch from oxygenated saline to CO₂/HCO₃ ⁻ buffered saline causes a persistent decrease in jejunal villous enterocyte pH_i and an increase in the surface pH in vivo. a A significant decrease in pH_i was observed both in PAT-1 KO and WT jejunum in vivo (data shown for 100 μm from villus tip). b At the same time, the surface pH immediately external to the villous enterocytes strongly increased during the switch. Here, the surface pH is shown 10 min after the solution was layered on top of the mucosa (for pH values measured at different distances from the villus tip see Fig. S3). Open circles: acidic pH along the villus in an unbuffered solution. Open squares: surface pH is acidic at the crypt opening and becomes more alkaline toward the tip in a strongly buffered Hepes/Tris O₂ solution. Closed circles: upon switch to CO₂/HCO₃ ⁻, the surface pH is quite alkaline along the villus axis, even at the base of the villi, n = 3–5

Fig. 7.

Absence of jejunal PAT-1 expression results in low enterocyte pH_i, but not in an altered NHE3 expression, membrane localization or functional activity. a DRA and NHE3 mRNA expression levels in PAT-1 KO and WT jejunum. b Acid-activated NHE3 transport activity was assessed as the HOE642 insensitive, S1611-sensitive Na⁺-dependent proton export rate in microdissected jeunal villi of PAT-1 KO and WT enterocytes, as described in “Material and methods”. No significant difference was seen between the two genotypes (b); n = 3–7, *p < 0.05. c NHE3 staining in the jejunal enterocyte brush border membrane in relation to the F-actin apical cytoskeleton (phalloidin staining), and quantitation of the relative distribution of NHE3 in % of total brush border membrane NHE3 within the analysed area, along the terminal web-microvillar axis (left panels). The peak of the F-actin intensity indicates the microvillar cleft/terminal web zone [28]. It is evident that the majority of NHE3 is located more towards the lumen, i.e., in the microvilli, both in WT and PAT-1 KO jejunum. Eight different cellular regions (different cells, different villi) were studied from three pairs of mice. d Steady-state pH_i in PAT-1 KO and WT enterocytes in the absence or presence of CO₂/HCO₃ ⁻.*p < 0.05, n = 5–7

Fig. 8.

Absence of jejunal DRA expression results in high enterocyte pH_i, a redistribution of NHE3 to the terminal web region, and a decrease in NHE3 functional activity despite slightly higher mRNA expression levels. a PAT-1 and NHE3 mRNA expression levels in DRA KO and WT jejunum; there is slightly higher NHE3 mRNA in the KO. b Acid-activated NHE3 transport activity was significantly lower in DRA KO compared to WT enterocytes. *p < 0.05, n = 6–8. c NHE3 staining in the jenunal enterocyte brush border membrane in relation to the F-actin apical cytoskeleton (phalloidin staining), and quantitation of the relative distribution of NHE3 in % of total brush border membrane NHE3 within the analysed area, along the terminal web-microvillar axis (left panels). It is evident that a significant fraction of NHE3 is located more towards the cell interior, i.e., in the terminal web region, in DRA KO jejunum. Eight different cellular regions (different cells, different villi) were studied from three pairs of mice. d pH_i was significantly higher in DRA KO villi vs. WT enterocytes

For the assessment of acid-activated NHE3 activity in intact microdissected jejunal villi, the technique was used as described by Chen et al. [8] with minor modifications. Villous enterocytes were acidified to pH_i ~6.4, and Na⁺/H⁺ exchange activity was assessed as the initial rate of pH recovery after the Na⁺-free buffer was switched to Na⁺-containing buffer C (25 NaCl, 95 TMACl, 10 Hepes, 5 Tris, 2.25 KH₂PO₄, 1.5 K₂HPO₄, 1.2 MgSO₄, 1.2 Ca gluconate, 10 glucose, pH 7.4 gassed with oxygen); 50 μM HOE642 was present both in Na⁺-free buffer and Na⁺-containing buffer C in the first recovery pulse to eliminate the contribution of NHE1 and NHE2; both 50 μM HOE642 and 10 μM S1611 (NHE3 specific inhibitor) were present during the recovery from a second ammonium prepulse to inhibit also NHE3 activity. The rates of pH_i change measured in the experiments were converted to proton flux (J _H ⁺) by using the equation J _H ⁺ = ΔpH/Δt × β _i, where t equals time. NHE3 activity was calculated as the proton flux in the first recovery pulse minus the proton flux in the second recovery pulse.

Two-photon confocal microscopy in vivo measurements

pH_i measurement in the jejunuocytes

The jejunum of the anaesthetised mouse was exteriorised with intact blood supply, opened near the mesenteric axis and mounted on a custom-made perfusion chamber as previously described [4, 46]. The exposed jejunal segment was incubated with 1 ml of 6 mM acetylcysteine (ACC) solution in saline for 15 min after surgery, and then followed by forced washing with the saline using a 10-ml syringe to remove accumulated mucus. The loading of the jejunocytes of the villi was achieved by incubation with 20 μM SNARF-1 AM for 10 min in saline containing 6 mM ACC. After a thorough washing, basal pH_i was measured for 10 min (every 5 min) with the jejunal villi exposed to oxygenated prewarmed buffer A without glucose. The fluorescence emission intensities were measured every 5 min at 100, 200 and 300 μm from the villus tip, then the solution was switched to buffer B without glucose, and recording was resumed for another 15 min. Fluorescence light scattering was too strong due to the mucus accumulation to continue for longer observation periods. SNARF-1 was excited at 780 nm, and the emission was collected at 580 nm (523–605 nm) and 640 nm (610–700 nm), using a two-photon laser scanning microscope with an upright Leica TCS SP2 confocal microscope with a 20× water immersion objective and a MaiTai Ti:sapphire-pulsed laser (Spectra-Physics), as previously described [7, 46].

Epithelial surface pH measurement in the jejunum

Surface pH assessment was performed as previously described [45], with modification to adjust the technique to the jejunum. The exposed jejunal mucosa was overlaid with different buffers containing the cell impermeable 5 μM SNARF-5 free acid and fluorescence scans were performed every 50 μm from the epithelium surface to the tips of villi, and every 100 μm from the tips of villi to the solution surface.

Calibration of the SNARF-1 and SNARF-5 ratio to pH_i

An in vitro calibration curve was made using different pH solutions as has been described previously [46]. The linear range of the calibration curve was taken to measure the intracellular and extracellular pH.

Statistical analysis

Descriptive data were reported as mean ± SEM. Data between two treatment groups were compared using a two-tailed unpaired Student's t-test assuming equal variances between two groups. Data from multiple treatment groups were compared using a one-way analysis of variance with a post hoc Tukey's t-test. A p value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

Fluid absorptive rate and pH change of effluent in WT jejunum before and after removal of luminal Cl⁻, or luminal Na⁺

WT jejunum absorbed fluid and acidified the unbuffered perfusate (Fig. 1a, b; data shown for the C57BL/6 strain but qualitatively the same data were obtained for the FVB/N strain). Cl⁻ removal from the perfusate resulted in a decrease in the fluid absorptive rate and a stronger acidification of the effluent (Fig. 1a, b), consistent with the concept that Cl⁻ absorption occurs in exchange for HCO₃ ⁻, and that this Cl⁻/HCO₃ ⁻ exchange process enhances fluid absorption. Na⁺ removal from the perfusate resulted in a low rate of fluid secretion, and less acidification of the perfusate (Fig. 1c, d). This suggests that the major reason for perfusate acidification is Na⁺/H⁺ exchange. The removal of Na⁺ and Cl⁻ resulted in a slightly stronger loss of fluid into the lumen, suggesting that a fluid secretory process may have been stimulated under these circumstances (Fig. 1e, f).

Fig. 1.

Fluid absorptive rate and pH change between the influent (unbuffered saline) and the effluent solution in perfused WT jejunal loops before and after removal of luminal Cl⁻ or luminal Na⁺, or both. a, b Removal of Cl⁻ from the luminal perfusate (substitution by gluconate) reduced fluid absorptive rate by ~50 % (a) and caused a stronger acidification of the effluent (b), suggesting the inhibition of a Cl⁻/HCO₃ ⁻ exchange process. c, d Removal of Na⁺ from the luminal perfusate by substitution with N-methyl-d-glucamine (NMDG) completely abolished absorption (c) and caused a lesser degree of acidification suggesting the inhibition of a Na⁺/H⁺ exchange process. e, f Removal of both Na⁺ and Cl⁻ caused the tissue to secrete more fluid than just with Na⁺ removal (e), but did not further change the pH of the effluent. **p < 0.01, n = 5

Fluid absorptive rate and pH change of effluent in NHE2-, NHE3-, DRA- and PAT-1-deficient jejunum

The KO mice from each strain were compared with the respective WT littermates or closely related mice, which were cohoused and received the same diet. The diet was different for DRA- and NHE3-deficient mice and their respective controls, which will explain some of the differences in WT absorptive rates between the different strains. NHE2-deficient jejunum did not result in a different fluid absorptive rate compared to WT littermates and the acidification of the effluent was even slightly stronger (Table 1, first two rows). The NHE2-deficient mice displayed neither an upregulation of NHE3 expression, nor an increase in aldosterone levels. NHE2-deficient villous enterocytes displayed a lower steady-state pH_i than littermates (Table S3), which possibly explains the slightly stronger acidification of the perfusate. The results shed doubts on a proposed role of NHE2 in jejunal fluid absorption, at least in mice.

Table 1.

Fluid absorptive rate and pH change of the effluent in NHE2-, NHE3-, DRA- and PAT-1-deficient jejunum

		Fluid absorption (μl cm−1 h−1)	pH change after perfusion
NHE2	WT	158.0 ± 14.7	−0.38 ± 0.08
	KO	161.8 ± 14.4	−0.50 ± 0.09
NHE3	WT	147.7 ± 4.9	−0.29 ± 0.07
	KO	87.3 ± 10.3*	0.27 ± 0.09*
DRA	WT	129.6 ± 10.5	−0.58 ± 0.10
	KO	85.6 ± 5.9*	−1.11 ± 0.07*
PAT-1	WT	145.9 ± 9.0	−0.33 ± 0.05
	KO	107.1 ± 4.9**	−0.14 ± 0.06*

The values give the jejunal fluid absorptive rates during perfusion with prewarmed isotonic unbuffered saline, pH titrated to 7.4, and the change of the pH of the effluent in comparison to the inflowing solution, in pH units

No significant difference in fluid absorptive rate or acidification of the effluent was seen between NHE2 KO and WT jejunum, n = 4. NHE3 deletion resulted in a reduction of fluid absorptive rate by 40.9 ± 6.8 % compared to WT, and a significantly stronger alkalinisation of the effluent. *p < 0.05, n = 4. DRA deletion resulted in a 26.8 ± 5.2 % decrease in fluid absorptive rate, and a stronger acidification of the effluent compared to WT. *p < 0.05, n = 5–7. PAT-1 deletion also resulted in a decrease in fluid absorptive rate by 25.1 ± 4.1 %, but — surprisingly — less acidification than WT jejunum. *p < 0.05, n = 10. These results are inconsistent with the assumption of PAT-1 as well as DRA operating as Cl⁻ _in/HCO₃ ⁻ _out exchangers under the experimental conditions

*p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, WT compared with KO group in the same genotype mice

NHE3-deficient mice had a significantly decreased jejunal fluid absorptive rate and a significantly stronger alkalinisation of the effluent (Table 1, rows 3 and 4), consistent with the loss of a Na⁺/H⁺ exchange process in the apical membrane of the jejunal enterocytes. Cl⁻ removal reversed the alkalinisation, but did not further decrease the residual fluid absorptive rate (data not shown).

DRA-deficient jejunum displayed a significant reduction in jejunal fluid absorption and a significantly stronger acidification of the effluent, consistent with the function of DRA as a Cl⁻/HCO₃ ⁻ exchanger, absorbing Cl⁻ in exchange for HCO₃ ⁻ (Table 1, rows 5 and 6).

PAT-1-deficient jejunum also displayed a significantly lower fluid absorptive rate than WT, but, surprisingly, a less degree of acidification of the jejunal effluent. These results suggest that PAT-1 plays a role in jejunal fluid absorption, but does not transport acid/base moieties in the same direction as DRA (Table 1, rows 7 and 8).

Switch from oxygenated saline to CO₂/HCO₃⁻ buffered saline strongly enhances jejunal fluid absorption

In an attempt to mimic postprandial ionic conditions in the upper GI tract after the pancreatic juice has mixed with the low pH milieu of the upper duodenum, we switched the unbuffered oxygenated saline to a 5 % CO₂/HCO₃ ⁻ buffered saline of identical pH (7.4). This manoeuvre resulted in a dramatic stimulation of jejunal fluid absorption, both in the presence and the absence of carbonic anhydrase 2 (CA2) expression (Fig. 2a). The absence of CA2 expression resulted in a more acidic pH of the effluent compared to WT during unbuffered saline perfusion (Fig. 2b), suggesting that CA2 may augment the generation of HCO₃ ⁻ for DRA-mediated Cl⁻ absorption, but that its absence can be compensated for (because no significant reduction in fluid absorption was observed in CA2 KO compared to WT jejunum). The switch to CO₂/HCO₃ ⁻ abolished any acidification/alkalinisation of the perfusate during the pass though the jejunal segment, probably because of its high buffer capacity.

Fig. 2.

Switch from oxygenated saline to CO₂/HCO₃ ⁻ buffered saline strongly enhances jejunal fluid absorption. a A switch of the luminal perfusate from unbuffered saline, pH 7.4, to a 5 % CO₂/24 mM HCO₃ ⁻-containing saline, pH 7.4, resulted in a strong and persistent increase in fluid absorptive rate. The absence of CA2 caused a variable decrease of fluid absorptive rate (a) and a significantly higher acidification of the effluent (b), but the increase in fluid absorption after the switch to CO₂/HCO₃ ⁻ was not significantly different from WT. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01. n = 5

The CO₂/HCO₃⁻-induced increase in jejunal fluid absorption is reduced strongly in NHE3- and PAT-1-deficient mice, but only mildly in DRA-deficient mice

We next investigated the CO₂/HCO₃ ⁻-induced fluid absorptive response in mice with genetic ablation or pharmacological inhibition of NHE3, and found that in the absence of NHE3 expression (Fig. 3a), the CO₂/HCO₃ ⁻-induced increase in fluid absorptive rate was virtually abolished. When 20 μM of the NHE3 inhibitor S1611 was added prior, as well as together, with CO₂/HCO₃ ⁻, the CO₂/HCO₃ ⁻ induced increase in fluid absorption was also greatly diminished (see legend to Fig. 3 for values). This demonstrates the necessity of NHE3 activation for CO₂/HCO₃ ⁻ induced fluid absorption.

Fig. 3.

The CO₂/HCO₃ ⁻-induced increase in fluid absorption is strongly reduced in NHE3- and PAT-1-deficient and to a lesser degree in DRA-deficient jejunum. a NHE3 KO mice did not display a change in the fluid absorptive rate when the luminal perfusate was switched to CO₂/HCO₃ ⁻-containing saline, pH 7.4. A strong inhibition of CO₂/HCO₃ ⁻ induced fluid absorption was also observed when 20 μM of the specific NHE3 inhibitor S1611 was applied prior to the solution change (137 ± 14.2 during saline perfusion, 101 ± 5.6 during 20 μM S1611, 148 ± 11.2 μl cm⁻¹ h⁻¹ during S1611 and CO₂/HCO₃ ⁻). b The switch to CO₂/HCO₃ ⁻ elicited an increase in fluid absorption in DRA KO mice that was, in % from basal, insignificantly different from the WT increase. c In contrast, the CO₂/HCO₃ ⁻ -induced increase was significantly reduced in PAT KO compared to WT jejunum. The percentage values are given in the text. **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001. n = 4–5

In the absence of DRA expression, the basal fluid absorptive rate was lower, but the increase in fluid absorptive rate by CO₂/HCO₃ ⁻ was robust (226.9 ± 47.2 % of basal in DRA KO vs. 282.0 ± 80.6 % of basal in WT), although the overall fluid absorptive rate in CO₂/HCO₃ ⁻ remained below that of WT jejunum (Fig. 3b).

In the absence of PAT-1 expression, the basal fluid absorptive rate was also lower (131.7 ± 9.9 μl cm⁻¹ h⁻¹ in WT vs. 94.1 ± 9.2 μl cm⁻¹ h⁻¹ in PAT-1 KO), albeit less strongly than in the absence of DRA. The CO₂/HCO₃ ⁻-induced increase in fluid absorption was strongly reduced (203.3 ± 19.6 % in WT vs. 144.9 ± 5.2 % in KO) (Fig. 3c).

Cl⁻ removal from the luminal perfusate abolishes the CO₂/HCO₃⁻ induced increase in fluid absorptive rate in PAT1-deficient, but not in DRA-deficient jejunum

In order to find out whether the two Slc26 family members may import different anions during the CO₂/HCO₃ ⁻-induced increase in fluid absorptive rate, we substituted the Cl⁻ ions in the luminal perfusate for gluconate. This significantly reduced the fluid absorptive rate in the WT, as well as the PAT-1-deficient jejunum, but not in the DRA-deficient jejunum (Fig. 4a, b, middle two bars). When the perfusate was then switched to one containing CO₂/HCO₃ ⁻ but no Cl⁻, there was a significant increase of fluid absorptive rate in the WT and the DRA-deficient jejunum, but not in PAT-1-deficient jejunum (Fig. 4a, b, right two bars). Luminal Cl⁻ substitution resulted in increased acidification of the effluent in WT and PAT-1-deficient jejunum, but did not change the acidification in effluent from DRA-deficient jejunum (Table 2).

Fig. 4.

Cl⁻ removal from the luminal perfusate abolished the CO₂/HCO₃ ⁻-induced increase in fluid absorptive rate in PAT1-deficient but not in DRA-deficient jejunum. In order to inhibit apical Cl⁻ _in/HCO₃ ⁻ _out exchange, Cl⁻ was removed for the luminal perfusate. a Cl⁻ removal resulted in a significant decrease in the fluid absorptive rate in the absence of CO₂/HCO₃ ⁻ in WT jejunum, but not in DRA-deficient jejunum. The CO₂/HCO₃ ⁻-induced increase in the absorptive rate was not different in WT and DRA-deficient jejunum. b In contrast, Cl⁻ removal caused a similar decrease in fluid absorptive rate in PAT-1 KO and WT littermate jejunum, but no CO₂/HCO₃ ⁻-induced increase in the fluid absorptive rate was observed in PAT-1 KO jejunum. c The pattern observed in CA2 KO mice was similar to that in DRA KO but not in PAT-1 KO mice, suggesting that CA2 activity may be important to generate HCO₃ ⁻ destined for export through DRA. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, n = 4–6

Table 2.

Effluent pH change after luminal Cl⁻ removal in the different genotypes

		pH change after perfusion
		NaCl	Cl−-free
PAT-1	WT	−0.38 ± 0.07	−0.71 ± 0.03***
	KO	−0.21 ± 0.03#	−0.72 ± 0.04***
DRA	WT	−0.56 ± 0.15	−0.77 ± 0.04
	KO	−1.07 ± 0.09###	−0.89 ± 0.04
CA2	WT	−0.60 ± 0.11	−0.74 ± 0.08
	CO	−0.77 ± 0.16	−0.78 ± 0.08

Effluent pH decreased after luminal Cl⁻ removal in WT and PAT-1 KO jejunum, but not in DRA- or CA2-deficient jejunum. This suggests that luminal Cl⁻ removal inhibits DRA-mediated, CA2-facilitated HCO₃ ⁻ export

^# p < 0.05, ^### p < 0.001, when compared with the WT in the same perfusion solution

*p < 0.05, **p > 0.01, ***p > 0.001, when compared with the NaCl group in the same genotype mice

In the absence of CA2, no significant reduction of fluid absorption compared to WT was observed during saline perfusion (Fig. 4c, left bars), but the removal of Cl⁻ did not result in a significant decrease in absorptive rate in CA2 KO jejunum, whereas it did so in WT (Fig. 4c, middle bars). The relative CO₂/HCO₃ ⁻-induced stimulation of fluid absorption was not significantly different between CA2 WT and KO mice (Fig. 4c, right bars). Similar to the results of Fig. 3, the changes in fluid absorption seen in the absence of CA2 parallel those seen in the DRA KO jejunum, but are distinctly different from those in the PAT-1 KO jejunum (Table 2).

Taken together, these results suggest that DRA, but not PAT-1, is responsible for the Cl⁻-dependent fluid absorption as well as alkalinisation of the jejunal effluent, and that CA2 augments HCO₃ ⁻ _i generation for DRA-mediated exchange against Cl⁻ _o. In contrast, PAT-1 is necessary for the Cl⁻-independent part of CO₂/HCO₃ ⁻-induced fluid absorption, possibly by direct HCO₃ ⁻ absorption from the lumen.

Na⁺ removal from the perfusate resulted in a reversal of the absorptive to a secretory state of the jejunum, but CO₂/HCO₃⁻ was able to reverse secretion in a PAT-1 dependent fashion

We next investigated the effect of Na⁺ removal from the luminal perfusate on basal and CO₂/HCO₃ ⁻-induced fluid absorption and the effect of PAT-1 deletion. Na⁺ removal resulted in a reversal of fluid absorption to secretion (Fig. 5a, middle panel) in WT mice and the effect was slightly less in PAT-1 KO mice. Na⁺ removal resulted in a decrease in the acidification of the effluent (Fig. 5b), but did not result in alkalinisation, as does NHE3 KO (see Table 1). When the luminal perfusate was switched to CO₂/HCO₃ ⁻, a small but significant reduction in the fluid secretory rate was observed in WT but not in PAT-1 KO jejunum, suggesting that PAT-1 activity may be able to absorb some fluid even in the absence of luminal Na⁺.

Fig. 5.

Na⁺ removal from the perfusate resulted in a reversal of the absorptive to a secretory state of the jejunum, but CO₂/HCO₃ ⁻ was able to reverse partially secretion in a PAT-1 dependent fashion. a As shown in Fig. 1, the removal of Na⁺ from the perfusate resulted in fluid secretion in the WT jejunum. This secretory rate was diminished by the switch to CO₂/HCO₃ ⁻, but only in WT jejunum. This suggest that a very small Na⁺-independent ion import, most likely HCO₃ ⁻, is possible even in the absence of Na⁺. b Na⁺-removal acidified the effluent both in WT and PAT-1 KO jejunum. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, n = 3–6

Switch from oxygenated saline to CO₂/HCO₃⁻ buffered saline causes a persistent decrease in jejunal villous enterocyte pH_i in vitro and in vivo

To be able to interpret the findings from the fluid absorption experiments, it is important to know the jejunal villous enterocyte pH_i before and after the switch to a CO₂/HCO₃ ⁻ buffered perfusate. We used several different techniques to accomplish this task. We firstly used microdissected BCECF-loaded jejunal villi, which have the advantage of very good access of the perfusate to the epithelial cell surface, as well as very exact pH calibration, but the disadvantage that the lamina propria is not separately perfused, and access of the perfusate to the basolateral side of the cell may be delayed. Jejunal enterocyte steady-state pH_i was measured both in the absence and presence of glucose in the bath, and was significantly more alkaline in the absence of glucose in the perfusate, as well as in the absence of CO₂/HCO₃ ⁻ (Fig. S1). Steady-state pH is the pH after long term incubation in the respective buffer. We also measured the steady-state pH_i in enterocytes within microdissected villi in the different KO and WT strains, in the presence of glucose (Table S3).

A switch of the solution from O₂-gassed, Hepes buffered to a CO₂/HCO₃ ⁻ solution of identical pH (7.4) resulted in enterocyte acidification to a new, significantly more acidic pH_i, and the degree of acidification after switching from Hepes/O₂ to CO₂/HCO₃ ⁻ was not significantly different in DRA WT and KO, as well as in PAT-1 WT and KO jejunum (Fig. S2).

The in vitro experiments in microdissected villi have the shortcoming of a lack of separate control over the ionic milieu at the basolateral side of the cells. We therefore performed experiments in SNARF-1-loaded, exteriorised, vascularly perfused jejunal villi of anaesthetised mice, where the ionic conditions near the basolateral membrane are likely to be similar to those measured in the blood. The experiments confirmed a persistent decrease of steady-state pH_i after switch from oxygenised saline to CO₂/HCO₃ ⁻ buffered saline, both in WT as well as in the PAT-1 KO jejunum (Fig. S3, and Fig. 6a).

Switch from oxygenated saline to CO₂/HCO₃⁻ buffered saline causes an increase in surface pH

We also assessed the surface pH in the mucus layer close to the apical surface of the villous enterocytes. The thickness of the mucus layer was assessed with fluorescent beads that are large enough to settle on top of the mucus gel [45]. When a slightly buffered (300 μM Hepes/Tris) saline, pH 7.4, containing SNARF-5, was layered on top of the mucosa and fluorescence scanned immediately after stabilization of villus movement, the surface pH at the surface of the crypts was found to be surprisingly acidic, and became more alkaline in the mucus gel towards to tip of the villi, but did not reach pH 7.4 (Fig. 6b, open circles, and Fig. S3). This indicated to us that proton extrusion and CO₂ diffusion immediately overwhelmed the small buffer capacity of the fluid component above the mucosa. Even when strongly Hepes/Tris (22 mM) buffer A was overlaid, the pH near the cryptal openings was still acidic (Fig. 6b, open squares). This suggests that the crypts secrete little HCO₃ ⁻ under the conditions of these experiments, despite sufficient blood HCO₃ ⁻ (see Table S1), and that the extracellular pH at the basal part of the villi is relatively acidic. After the perfusate was changed to CO₂/HCO₃ ⁻ buffered saline, the surface pH was significantly higher along the whole length of the villi, despite a lower pH_i (Fig. 6b, closed circles). While the ratios of mucosa/luminal fluid differ somewhat during experimental conditions of the two photon measurements and the single pass perfusion, we tried to make them as comparable as possible. Both experimental series indicate that during saline perfusion, a considerable proton gradient into the villous enterocytes exists (compare the villus enterocyte pH_i in Hepes/O₂ in Figs. 6a, 7d and 8d, where pH_i is ~7.4 in PAT-1 and DRA WT, ~7.55 in DRA KO and ~7.2 in PAT-1 KO mice, with the extracellular pH measurements in the unbuffered solution of approx. 6.7), whereas a considerable bicarbonate gradient into the enterocytes exists after the switch to CO₂/HCO₃ ⁻ (compare the pH_i of approx 7.0 in Fig. 6a with the pH_o of 7.4–7.6 in Fig. 6b, closed circles).

Enterocyte pH_i, NHE3 transport activity and brush border membrane localization in PAT-1- and DRA-deficient jejunal enterocytes

The low pH_i of PAT-1-deficient enterocytes and the importance of PAT-1 expression for CO₂/HCO₃ ⁻-induced fluid absorption in the presence and absence of luminal Cl⁻ suggest that PAT-1 is involved in HCO₃ ⁻ absorption under those circumstances. An alternative explanation for the data would be a decreased NHE3 expression, membrane abundance or activity in PAT-1-deficient jejunum. We therefore studied NHE3 expression, membrane localization and acid-activated transport activity in WT, PAT-1-deficient and DRA-deficient jejunum. NHE3 mRNA expression levels were not significantly different in PAT-1-deficient and the respective WT littermate jejunum, as well as in DRA-deficient and WT jejunum, respectively (Figs. 7a and 8a). The graphs also show that in PAT-1 and DRA KO jejunum, the expression of the respective other Slc26 member is not altered compared to WT (Figs. 7a and 8a).

Immunohistochemical localization of NHE3 in WT jejunum demonstrated that most of the NHE3 immunofluorescence is found in the microvillar region in WT as well as in PAT-1-deficient mice. In contrast, a significant fraction is found in the terminal web region in DRA-deficient mice (Figs. 7c and 8c). Acid-activated, S1611-sensitive NHE3-mediated proton efflux rates were not significantly different between WT and PAT-1-deficient jejunum (Fig. 7b), but were significantly lower in DRA-deficient jejunal villi (Fig. 8b).

To find a reason for the difference in NHE3 brush border membrane distribution and transport activity, we measured steady-state pH_i in PAT-1 KO vs. WT enterocytes (Fig. 7d) and DRA KO vs. WT (Fig. 8d). We assume that the high pH_i in DRA-deficient villous enterocytes results in a higher percentage of NHE3 being localised in the terminal web/microvillar cleft region, whereas NHE3 is predominantly microvillar in the low pH_i in PAT-deficient enterocytes. The same phenomenon (high pH_i and redistribution of NHE3 to terminal web region) was observed in CFTR-deficient villous enterocytes (data not shown).

Discussion

In the present study, we utilised KO mice for the two small intestinal apical Na⁺/H⁺ exchangers, namely NHE2 and NHE3 [5], and the two apical Cl⁻/HCO₃ ⁻ exchangers, namely PAT-1 and DRA [50, 51], to better define the molecular mechanisms of jejunal fluid absorption. Our first step was to study jejunal absorptive rates of unbuffered saline whose inflowing pH was closely controlled by titration to 7.4 directly before being perfused into the isolated jejunal loop, and whose outflowing pH was immediately measured by pH-stat titration. Doing so in all four KO mice, and comparing the results to sex-matched WT littermates, revealed that the lack of NHE2 expression did not affect jejunal fluid absorption and resulted in an even slightly more acidic pH of the effluent (Table 1). This suggests that NHE2, albeit highly expressed in murine jejunum, is not involved in apical Na⁺/H⁺ exchange under the experimental circumstances. Why the steady-state pH_i of NHE2 KO mice is nevertheless lower than that of WT mice (Table S2) is unclear, but may suggest that the mechanisms that activate NHE2 are not operative during absorption of isotonic saline.

The lack of NHE3 expression, on the other hand, reduced fluid absorption by half and resulted in effluent alkalinisation in a luminal Cl⁻-dependent manner (Table 1). This is entirely consistent with the action of NHE3 as an apical Na⁺/H⁺ exchanger. Correspondingly, NHE3 KO villous enterocytes have a lower steady-state pH_i than WT enterocytes (Table S2). The absence of NHE3 unmasks the luminal alkalinisation by Cl⁻/HCO₃ ⁻ exchange. Na⁺ removal from the perfusate reversed absorption to secretion and reduced luminal acidification but did not result in alkalinisation, indicating that the absence of Na⁺, but not the absence of NHE3, inhibits luminal Cl⁻/HCO₃ ⁻ exchange, probably because of a strong enterocyte pH_i decrease and/or cell shrinkage. The results also show that the jejunum has alternative Na⁺-absorptive mechanisms to NHE3, which appear to be distinct from NHE2, since the addition of HOE642 in concentrations sufficient to inhibit NHE2 does not inhibit this residual 50 % absorptive rate (data not shown). The presence of these non-NHE3 Na⁺ absorptive mechanisms was also apparent in Na⁺ flux studies in isolated murine jejunal epithelium [16], and was EIPA sensitive and inhibited by cAMP, but not readily attributable to NHE2. We do not currently know if NHE8, also expressed in the intestine, or luminally expressed Na⁺-bicarbonate cotransporters (NBCs), in conjunction with carbonic anhydrases at or near the brush border membrane, play a role in jejunal Na⁺ absorption. Cation-selective tight junctions in conjunction with Cl⁻/HCO₃ ⁻ exchange may also be an alternative route of Na⁺ absorption, since the luminal perfusate alkalinised during the residual fluid absorptive process in NHE3-deficient jejunum in vivo (Table 1).

The lack of DRA expression resulted in a reduction of fluid absorption and a stronger acidification of the effluent compared to the respective WT jejunum, which is entirely consistent with the role of DRA as a Cl⁻/HCO₃ ⁻ exchanger (Table 1). The lack of PAT-1 expression also resulted in a reduction of fluid absorption, but a lesser acidification of the effluent (Table 1). This indicates that PAT-1 and DRA may not perform the same transport function.

When we switched to 5%CO₂/24 mM HCO₃ ⁻-buffered saline at an identical pH (7.4), there was a strong increase in fluid absorptive rates, which were somewhat higher in the first than in the second 20-min observation period, but was persistent even if we measured the rates for longer time periods (data not shown). To get insight into the underlying molecular mechanisms, we first measured the CO₂/HCO₃ ⁻-induced increase in fluid absorption in the different KO mice of this study and their respective WT littermates. In the absence of NHE2, the CO₂/HCO₃ ⁻-induced increase in fluid absorption was completely normal (data not shown), whereas it was abolished in the absence of NHE3 expression (Fig. 3). Pharmacological NHE3 inhibition with S1611 had a similar effect. In the absence of DRA expression, the CO₂/HCO₃ ⁻-induced increase in fluid absorptive rate in percent of basal was only slightly lower than in WT, whereas it was strongly decreased in the absence of PAT-1 expression (Fig. 3). These experiments indicate that NHE3 and PAT-1 rather than DRA are essential for the CO₂/HCO₃ ⁻-stimulated increase in jejunal fluid absorption. The absence of CAII did not mimic the effect of PAT-1 but of DRA deletion (albeit less pronounced), suggesting that CAII is required for intracellular HCO₃ ⁻ generation and supply for DRA-mediated HCO₃ ⁻ export, but not for PAT-1 transport rate, as suggested by the data by Alvarez et al. [3] in expression systems.

In order to further clarify the mode of action of DRA and PAT-1 in CO₂/HCO₃ ⁻-induced jejunal fluid absorption, we removed Cl⁻ from the luminal perfusate. This manoeuvre reduced fluid absorption by half and acidified the effluent more strongly than in the presence of luminal Cl⁻ in WT, as well as PAT-1 KO jejunum, but not in DRA KO jejunum. This indicates that DRA, but not PAT-1, is responsible for Cl⁻-dependent jejunal fluid absorption via exchange for base, when isotonic saline is perfused through the jejunum. A switch to 5 % CO₂/HCO₃ ⁻ in the absence of luminal Cl⁻ resulted in a significant increase of fluid secretion in WT and DRA KO, but not in PAT-1 KO jejunum (Fig. 4). These data suggest that PAT-1 is able to augment CO₂/HCO₃ ⁻ induced fluid absorption in the absence of luminal Cl⁻. Two potential explanations come into mind: Either PAT-1 imports the anion HCO₃ ⁻ during CO₂/HCO₃ ⁻-induced fluid absorption, NHE3 imports the cation Na⁺, or Na⁺ absorption via NHE3 is sufficient to mediate CO₂/HCO₃ ⁻-induced fluid absorption and the absence of PAT-1 interferes with NHE3 expression and/or activity. We measured this but obtained no indication for a downregulation of NHE3 expression, function or an alteration of NHE3 membrane localization in PAT-1 deficient enterocytes.

In contrast, we did find a decrease in acid-activated NHE3 transport rates in DRA-deficient villous enterocytes, and this was accompanied by a significant part of NHE3 being localised to the terminal web region in the DRA KO jejunum (Fig. 8). We speculate that the differential distribution of NHE3 in the microvillar vs. terminal web region, which correlates more or less with NHE3 activity both in rat proximal tubule [36], and in murine ileum [8, 28], may be a consequence of the different steady-state pH_i in the villous enterocytes in the DRA vs. PAT-1 KO jejunal villous enterocytes (Figs. 7 and 8). To test this hypothesis, we also studied NHE3 localization in CFTR KO villous enterocytes, which also have an increased pH_i compared to WT both in the measurements done by Simpson et al. [40] and by us, and indeed, found more NHE3 in the terminal web zone in CFTR KO compared to WT enterocytes (data not shown). Thus a decrease in NHE3 transport, secondary to DRA deletion, may in part explain the reduced CO₂/HCO₃ ⁻-stimulated fluid absorptive rates in DRA KO jejunum but it cannot be the explanation for the reduction in CO₂/HCO₃ ⁻-induced fluid absorptive rate in PAT-1 KO jejunum. Therefore, we hypothetise that PAT-1 imports HCO₃ ⁻ during CO₂/HCO₃ ⁻-induced fluid absorption.

Consistent with our conclusions of HCO₃ ⁻ import via PAT-1 and HCO₃ ⁻ export via DRA was the fact that the genetic deletion of CA2, which is the major intracellular carbonic anhydrase in duodenal epithelial cell [1, 34] and likely in the jejunum as well, resulted in changes in fluid absorption that resembled those seen in DRA-deficient jejunum, but not in PAT-1 deficient jejunum (Figs. 2 and 4). This would be expected, as CA2 would not be necessary for PAT-1-mediated HCO₃ ⁻ import from the jejunal lumen.

Simpson et al. [42] were the first to suggest HCO₃ ⁻ import by PAT-1 into villous enterocytes during cellular acidification in isolated murine duodenal mucosa. In that paper, the authors measured the GlySar (a nonhydrolysable dipeptide)-induced duodenocyte pH_i change and calculated the presumed Cl⁻/HCO₃ ⁻ exchange rate. Based on the assumption of a depolarised membrane potential of −25 mV during electrogenic H⁺-dipeptide absorption, they calculated the driving forces for HCO₃ ⁻ _in/Cl⁻ _out and concluded that HCO₃ ⁻ uptake in exchange for Cl⁻ via PAT-1 would be possible both if PAT-1 were electroneutral and also if it were electrogenic.

We therefore measured the pH_i and the surface pH, which is the pH directly external to the epithelial cells, in the villous epithelium. For pH_i measurements, we used two techniques: videoimaging of microdissected BCECF-loaded villi and two-photon microscopy in SNARF-loaded villi in exteriorised vascularly perfused jejunum in vivo. Using both approaches, it became apparent that the switch of the perfusate from saline to CO₂/HCO₃ ⁻ caused a persistent decrease in villous enterocyte pH_i. The surface pH was measured in vivo only, and the measurements demonstrated a strong increase of the surface pH after the switch from saline, pH 7.4 to a 5% CO₂/24 mM HCO₃ ⁻-containing saline, pH 7.4. This resulted in a reversal of the proton gradient across the enterocyte apical membrane, with an inward gradient for protons and an outward gradient for HCO₃ ⁻ during saline perfusion, and an outward gradient for protons and inward gradient for HCO₃ ⁻ during CO₂/HCO₃ ⁻-containing saline perfusion.

Due to the fact that the base of the villi are covered with thick mucus gel and unstirred layer effects likely exist [46], we have to assume that during the luminal perfusion experiments, the rapid flow of solution in the lumen will keep the pH at the villus tips near the entry of the perfusate similar to that of the inflowing perfusate (i.e., ~7.4), while the surface pH at the base of the villi is likely similar to that measured during the two photon measurements in both the unbuffered and the strongly buffered luminal bath (~6.8). Given the low surface pH during saline perfusion at the base of the villi, both DRA and PAT-1 would probably export HCO₃ ⁻ in exchange for Cl⁻ in this location, no matter what the coupling of the two anions. Because the surface pH at the tip of the villi is probably markedly more alkaline than in the villous base during saline pH 7.4 perfusion, it is possible that PAT-1 imports HCO₃ ⁻ at the tip and Cl⁻ at the villous base in the absence of luminal CO₂/HCO₃ ⁻. Extracellular carbonic anhydrases are expressed in the luminal surface of the enterocytes and would be able to convert CO₂, which continuously diffuses from the epithelial cells into the lumen, to HCO₃ ⁻. This would explain why effluent pH is less acidic in PAT-1 KO than WT mice during saline perfusion.

After a switch to 5 % CO₂/HCO₃ ⁻, surface pH increased everywhere along the villus, and enterocyte pH_i decreased (Fig. 6). The strong decrease of pH_i and increase of pH_o (Fig. 6 and Fig. S3) in comparison with that seen when the exposed jejunum was perfused with a strongly Hepes/Tris buffer, is likely due to the fact that CO₂ entry into the enterocytes at the base may stimulate HCO₃ ⁻ secretion [19, 31]. This resulted in a driving force for HCO₃ ⁻ uptake into the cell. Although calibration of pH_i is fraught with some uncertainties in vivo, the pH_i experiments in microdissected villi confirm the fact that pH_i decreases to values of at least 7.0 if not lower immediately after the switch from Hepes/O₂ to CO₂/HCO₃ ⁻, which would create an inwardly HCO₃ ⁻ gradient of at least twofold. In the case of a 2HCO₃ ⁻:1Cl⁻ stochiometry for PAT-1 and a 2Cl⁻:1HCO₃ ⁻ stochiometry for DRA [39], it is likely that PAT-1 imports HCO₃ ⁻ and DRA may or may not be active depending on the degree of intracellular acidification and the extracellular ratio of HCO₃ ⁻ to Cl⁻ concentration. This would be consistent with our data. The assumption that both transporters operate in an electroneutral transport mode but are differentially expressed along the crypt–villus axis, with DRA being expressed at the base of the villi and PAT-1 near the tips [41], is inconsistent with the fact that DRA KO enterocytes in the villus tips, measured in vitro, are more alkaline than WT enterocytes. In addition, it would be difficult to understand why the absence of PAT-1, but not of DRA, abolishes the Cl⁻-independent part of CO₂/HCO₃ ⁻-induced fluid absorption. Also, the differential effects of PAT-1 and DRA deletion on enterocyte steady-state pH_i, and the reciprocal pH change of the effluent during jejunal perfusion, are difficult to reconcile with a 1:1 coupling for both transporters. We attempted to get further insight into a potential electrogenicity of PAT-1 mediated HCO₃ ⁻ absorption by studying CO₂/HCO₃ ⁻-stimulated fluid absorption after manipulation of the enterocyte membrane potential by high luminal K⁺, as used by Simpson et al. in isolated duodenal mucosa [49] or by application of luminal glucose, which will depolarise the apical membrane potential through Na⁺-coupled glucose absorption. However, we felt that these manoeuvres to depolarise the apical membrane potential in vivo influenced too many other parameters to yield clearly interpretable results. Therefore, our data are consistent with but do not prove a 2:1 coupling ratio for HCO₃ ⁻/Cl⁻ for PAT-1, and with both a 2:1 as well as a 1:1 coupling of Cl⁻ to HCO₃ ⁻ for DRA. A hypothetical model depicting a summary of our results and our interpretation of them is given in Fig. 9.

Fig. 9.

Hypothetical schematic diagram of the ion transport activities in the jejunal enterocytes at the upper and lower part of the villus, based on the (approximate) measurements of intra- and extracellular pH and the expected contributions of the different transporters to fluid absorption based on measurements in WT and KO mice. The size of the transporter symbols is indicative of presumed activity. Left panel: during perfusion of the jejunal segment with unbuffered saline, the perfusate rapidly acidifies due to CO₂ diffusion from the tissue, H⁺ export via NHE3 and very little HCO₃ ⁻ absorption via PAT-1. Some HCO₃ ⁻ is likely formed near the enterocyte membrane by extracellular carbonic anhydrases. DRA activity alkalinises the perfusate. The high pH_i favours DRA-mediated HCO₃ ⁻ secretion, and it is likely that even PAT-1 will import Cl⁻ in exchange for HCO₃ ⁻, at least in the acidic extracellular pH conditions at the base of the villi. The low pH_o has an inhibitory effect on NHE3. Right panel: after the switch of the perfusate to a CO₂/HCO₃ ⁻ buffer with the same pH, the surface pH_o is stable at 7.4, while CO₂ enters and acidifies the enterocytes. This creates a driving force for PAT-1 mediated HCO₃ ⁻ absorption; it increases the driving force for NHE3-mediated Na⁺ absorption, while reducing it for DRA-mediated HCO₃ ⁻ secretion

In summary, this study suggests a novel physiological function for the Slc26 family member PAT-1 (Slc26a6) as an important transport protein involved in jejunal Na⁺HCO₃ ⁻ absorption and acid/base balance, whereas DRA is predominantly involved with Cl⁻ absorption. This may explain the particularly high expression levels for PAT-1 in the upper small intestine. The reason for the expression of two anion transporters with Cl⁻/HCO₃ ⁻ exchanger activity with similar expression levels and cellular location may lie in the fact that the two operate optimally under different ionic conditions, and thus ensure the absorption of monovalent anions (Cl⁻ or HCO₃ ⁻) over a wide range of luminal Cl⁻ and HCO₃ ⁻ concentrations. This concept helps explain many clinical observations, i.e., the high loss of HCO₃ ⁻ by patients with a small intestinal stoma, and may change future therapeutic approaches to such problems.

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Abbreviations

ACC

Acetylcysteine

CA2

Carbonic anhydrase 2

DRA

Downregulated in adenoma

KO

Knockout

NHE

Na⁺/H⁺ exchanger

NMDG

N-Methyl-d-glucamine

PAT-1

Putative anion transporter 1

WT

Wild type

CAII

Carbonic anhydrase II