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The Ste20 Kinases Ste20-related Proline-Alanine-rich Kinase and Oxidative-stress Response 1 Regulate NKCC1 Function in Sensory Neurons*

NKCC1 is highly expressed in dorsal root ganglion neurons, where it is involved in gating sensory information. In a recent study, it was shown that peripheral nerve injury results in increased NKCC1 activity, not due to an increase in cotransporter expression, but to increased phosphorylation of the cotransporter (Pieraut, S., Matha, V., Sar, C., Hubert, T., Méchaly, I., Hilaire, C., Mersel, M., Delpire, E., Valmier, J., and Scamps, F. (2007) J. Neurosci. 27, 6751–6759). Our laboratory has also identified two Ste20-like kinases that bind and phosphorylate NKCC1: Ste20-related proline-alanine-rich kinase (SPAK) and oxidative-stress response 1 (OSR1). In this study, we show that both kinases are expressed at similar expression levels in spinal cord and dorsal root ganglion neurons, and that both kinases participate equally in the regulation of NKCC1. Using a novel fluorescence method to assay NKCC1 activity in single cells, we show a 50% reduction in NKCC1 activity in DRG neurons isolated from SPAK knockout mice, indicating that another kinase, e.g. OSR1, is present to phosphorylate and activate the cotransporter. Using a nociceptive dorsal root ganglion sensory neuronal cell line, which expresses the same cation-chloride cotransporters and kinases as native DRG neurons, and gene silencing via short hairpin RNA, we demonstrate a direct relationship between kinase expression and cotransporter activity. We show that inactivation of either kinase significantly affects NKCC1 activity, whereas inactivation of both kinases results in an additive effect. In summary, our study demonstrates redundancy of kinases in the regulation of NKCC1 in dorsal root ganglion neurons.

The regulation of intracellular Cl Ϫ in neurons is a critical determinant of inhibitory synaptic neurotransmission. Sensory or peripheral neurons express, in abundance, an inwardly poised Na ϩ -and K ϩ -dependent Cl Ϫ transport mechanism, NKCC1, 2 whose activity drives the uphill accumulation of Cl Ϫ ions (2,3). High intracellular Cl Ϫ concentration in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons permits depolarizing ␥-aminobutyric acid responses, which mediate presynaptic inhibition and filtration of sensory noise (4). Consequently, the knockout of NKCC1 exhibits a redistribution of internal Cl Ϫ in DRG neurons and a pain perception phenotype (3,5). In addition, peripheral inflammation or nerve injury results in increased NKCC1 function in primary afferents (6,7). Using a phosphopeptide-specific NKCC1 antibody, it was recently shown that NKCC1 phosphorylation instead of expression level increased in DRG neurons upon nerve injury (1). This observation points to the importance of NKCC1 regulation in the neuropathic pain pathway.
In recent work, our laboratory identified two Ste20-like kinases that directly bind to the cytosolic N-terminal tail of NKCC1 (8). The binding is a pre-requisite for NKCC1 phosphorylation and activation (9 -13). The kinases, named SPAK (Ste20-related proline-alanine-rich kinase) and OSR1 (oxidative-stress response 1), share high homology in both their catalytic and regulatory domains. Expression of the two proteins has been examined in tissues using both Northern and Western blot analysis. These studies established that both kinases are widely expressed and that their expression pattern often overlaps (14 -18). Co-expression of the kinases has been confirmed using Western blot analysis of well established cultured cell lines (17).
Heterologous expression of SPAK and OSR1 in Xenopus laevis oocytes demonstrates that both kinases are able to bind and activate NKCC1 (10). Whether or not they equally participate to the regulation of NKCC1 in vivo under normal physiological conditions has not yet been determined. We chose to address the role of SPAK and OSR1 by using an established nociceptive dorsal root ganglion sensory neuronal cell line (19), as well as isolated mouse DRG neurons. We demonstrate that undifferentiated 50B11 cells express the same cotransporters and regulatory kinases as native DRG cells. To manipulate the kinases, we decreased their expression via shRNA knockdown and used a SPAK knockout mouse for the isolated DRG neurons. To measure NKCC1 activity, we used unidirectional 86 Rb-uptake with the established cell line and developed a novel fluorescence assay to assess cotransporter activity in single isolated DRG neurons. Our data demonstrate that both kinases are expressed to similar levels in both the cell line and isolated mouse DRG neurons, and that the kinases participate in concert to regulate NKCC1 function.
RT-PCR-RNA was isolated from 50B11 cells or dorsal root ganglions from mice or rats using the RNeasy kit from Qiagen (Valencia, CA). Total RNA (2 g) was then reverse-transcribed into cDNA using reverse transcriptase (SuperScript TM II, Invitrogen). PCR was performed using standard protocols and primers selected according to consensus sequences between rat and mouse. The sequences of these primers are listed in Table 1.
Gene Knockdown by shRNA-The specific RNAi sequences against OSR1/SPAK were designed by BLOCK-iT TM RNAi Designer (Invitrogen) ( Table 2). The RNAi constructs were then synthesized as short hairpins that adopted the human micro-RNA miR-30 structure (Zhou et al. 27) with AgeI and EcoRI restriction sites on each end, respectively. The shRNA encoding sequence was then inserted into the mammalian expression vector pLKO2 (modified from pLKO1 vector (Open Biosystems) by introducing an AgeI restriction site via QuikChange Mutagenesis (Stratagene, La Jolla, CA)). To create knockdown cell lines, 50B11 cells were trypsinized and plated at 30% density the day prior to transfection. The shRNAcontaining plasmids were then transfected into the cells with FuGENE 6 (Roche Applied Science) at a 3:1 ratio (DNA:transfection reagent). Transfected cells were incubated at 37°C/5% CO 2 for 48 h prior to addition of puromycin 1-10 g/ml. Under puromycin selection, the expressed siRNA molecules permanently knock down their targets. The knockdown is passed down through generations and cell passages without affecting cell viability.
Rescuing NKCC1 Activity in Knockdown Clones-The cDNAs encoding mouse SPAK (mSPAK) and mouse OSR1 (mOSR1) were cloned into the mammalian expression vector pcDNA3 in-frame with an N-terminal HA epitope. The constructs were then transfected (as described above) into the OSR1-KD and SPAK-KD cells, respectively. After neomycin (100 g/ml) and puromycin (1-10 g/ml) double selection, individual clones were isolated, and mSPAK and mOSR1 overexpression in cells was assessed by Western blot analysis using a mouse polyclonal anti-HA antibody.
SPAK Knockout Mouse-The Mutagenic Insertion and Chromosome Engineering Resource (MICER) clone MHPN27a7, which contains a fragment of the mouse SPAK gene, was obtained from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute (Hinxton, Cambridge, UK), linearized with NheI and electroporated in TL1 (20) mouse embryonic stem cells. The transfected cells

Sequence of PCR primers for cation-chloride cotransporters and kinases
Sizes of the PCR products in base pairs (bp) are indicated in the last column.

Gene
Sense (  were maintained on fibroblast feeder cells in DMEM supplemented with 15% fetal bovine serum, 50 mg/ml gentamicin, 1000 units/ml leukemia inhibitory factor, 90 mM ␤-mercaptoethanol, and 0.2 mg/ml G418. Upon recombination, exon 6 (110 bp) was duplicated, and the tyrosinase, neomycin resistance, and 5Ј hprt (hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase gene) genes were inserted between the two exons (see Fig. 1A). We picked ϳ500 independent neomycin-resistant colonies and grew them in 96-well plates on feeder layers, expanded them, and analyzed them for the presence of the mutant gene by performing Southern blot analysis using genomic DNA digested with XbaI and hybridized with a 32 P-labeled probe consisting of 418 bp downstream of the left arm of recombination (see Fig. 1, B and C). A positive clone (3F3) was injected into C57B6J blastocysts, and six chimeric males (Ͼ60% brown fur) were obtained. Several chimeric males produced brown fur offspring demonstrating germ line transmission. Animals carrying the mutant allele were identified by PCR genotyping of tail DNA. After one additional mating with C57BL6 mice, heterozygous mice were crossed to obtain homozygous animals. As no PCR strategy could differentiate heterozygous from homozygous animals, we mated each offspring with C57BL6 animals and assessed the number of mutant and wild-type animals. Animals generating 100% heterozygous offspring were mated together, and a homozygote line was created. Verification of homozygosity was done by Western blot analysis (Fig. 1C). Wild-type mice were generated by breeding the wild-type offspring of the SPAK heterozygous crosses.
Mouse DRG Isolation-Wildtype and homozygote SPAK knockout mice were sacrificed by decapitation under anesthesia. Dorsal root ganglia were dissected from the lower thoracic to mid-lumbar regions of the vertebral column and placed in oxygenated serum-free DMEM/F-12 medium. The connective tissue sheath around the ganglia was manually removed, and the DRGs were minced two to three times with iridectomy scissors. Minced DRGs were placed in a flask containing 5 ml of oxygenated serum-free DMEM/F-12 medium containing 1 mg/ml collagenase D (Roche Applied Science), 0.6 mg/ml deoxyribonuclease I (Sigma, St. Louis, MO), and 0.6 mg/ml trypsin (Sigma). They were incubated in a 37°C water bath for 30 -40 min; gently hand shaking the flask every 10 min. At the end of the incubation period, individual neurons were isolated from the ganglia by vigorous shaking. Soybean trypsin inhibitor (1 mg/ml, Sigma) was then added, and the dissociated cells were centrifuged at 70 ϫ g for 6 min. The cell pellet was resuspended with 1 ml of DMEM/F-12 medium containing 10% serum. Cell suspensions (120 l) were plated onto 35-mm glass bottom culture dishes (MatTek Corp., Ashland, MA) coated with poly-D-lysine and laminin, and incubated at 37°C for 30 min prior to the addition of 2.5 ml of complete DMEM/F-12 medium (Invitrogen). Cells were used the following day for imaging experiments.

86
Rb Uptake-Control and transfected 50B11 cells were plated on 6-well dishes and incubated at 37°C/5% CO 2 until confluent. For the uptake, cells were first washed twice with 1 ml of isosmotic saline (140 mM NaCl, 5 mM KCl, 2 mM CaCl 2 , 0.8 mM MgSO 4 , 5 mM glucose, 5 mM HEPES buffered to pH 7.4, 300 Ϯ 5 mosM). Cells were then preincubated for 15 min in 1 ml of the same isosmotic saline plus 1 mM ouabain (Sigma) Ϯ 20 M bumetanide (Sigma). The preincubation solution was then aspirated and replaced with an identical solution containing 1 Ci of 86 Rb, 1 mM ouabain Ϯ 20 M bumetanide. Four 5-l aliquots of flux solution were sampled at the beginning of each 86 Rb uptake condition and used as standards. After a 20-min uptake, the radioactive solution was aspirated, and the cells were washed three times with 1 ml of ice-cold solution, lysed for 1 h with 500 l of 0.25 N NaOH, and neutralized with 250 l of glacial acetic acid. 86 Rb tracer activity was measured by using 150 l of lysate for ␤-scintillation counting. NKCC1 flux was expressed in millimoles of K ϩ /g of protein/min. Tl-uptake in Single Cells-Dorsal root ganglions of control and knockout mice were isolated, dissociated into single neurons as described, and incubated at 37°C/5% CO 2 for 24 h before use. For the uptake, thallium was used as the tracer of K ϩ (FluxOR TM Thallium Detection Kits, Invitrogen). Neurons were first loaded with the thallium-sensitive FluxOR TM dye (1ϫ) in a hypotonic (275 Ϯ 5 mosM) low chloride solution (125 mM NaMeSO 3 , 2 mM KCl, 2 mM CaCl 2 , 0.8 mM MgSO 4 , 5 mM glucose, 20 mM HEPES) plus 1ϫ PowerLoad TM concentrate plus 2.7 mM probenecid (supplied by the kit) for 90 min. The loading solution was then aspirated, and neurons were washed three times with the same solution to remove excessive dye. Neurons were then preincubated for 10 min using 1 ml of the same saline containing 1 mM ouabain and 2.

RT-PCR and Expression of Kinases and Transporters-The
Na-K-2Cl cotransporter is abundant in sensory neurons where it participates to the gating of sensory information (2,3,21). Its activity is modulated by phosphorylation/dephosphorylation of key threonine residues located in its cytoplasmic N-terminal tail. Heterologous expression studies have demonstrated that NKCC1 phosphorylation is mediated by Ste20p-related serine/ threonine kinases SPAK and OSR1 (10,11,13,22). To manipulate expression of the kinases in a native cell system, we chose a rat nociceptive cell line, 50B11, developed by Chen and colleagues (19). Using RT-PCR, four cation-chloride cotransporters (NCC1, KCC1, KCC3, and KCC4) as well as six protein kinases (SPAK, OSR1, WNK1, WNK2, WNK3, and WNK4) were identified in 50B11 cells, a pattern similar to that seen in native mouse and rat DRG neurons (Fig. 2). Note that KCC2, which is exclusively expressed in central neurons, was not amplified in 50B11 cells, rat, and mouse DRG neurons. Due to the lack of sequence information on the rat WNK3, we used a pair of mouse primers, which failed to amplify a fragment from 50B11 cells, rat DRG neurons (Fig. 2), as well as rat brain (data not shown). However, the mouse primers were able to amplify a WNK3 fragment from cDNA isolated from mouse DRG neurons (Fig. 2).
Relative Abundance of SPAK and OSR1 in Tissues-Previous work has shown that expression of OSR1 and SPAK overlaps in tissues (14 -17). Because we wanted to assess the relative participation of each kinase in the regulation of NKCC1, we developed a semi-quantitative Western blot method to determine the relative abundance of SPAK and OSR1 kinases. Because purified antibodies have their own affinities toward their targets and have their own titers, it is difficult to compare signals elicited from two distinct antibodies. Therefore, we used GST fusion proteins of full-length SPAK and OSR1 to calibrate each antibody. Purification of GST fusion protein yields not only the full-length protein, but also large amounts of smaller protein fragments. To ensure that equal amounts of GST fusion proteins were utilized for the calibration, we did not rely on Bradford protein assay, but on Western blot analysis of the two fusion proteins using a rabbit polyclonal anti-GST antibody. As seen in Fig. 3 (A and B), Western blot and densitometry analysis showed that GST-SPAK and GST-OSR1 signals were very close to each other (10.2 l of GST-SPAK ϭ 10 l of GST-OSR1). We next loaded equal amounts of the two fusion proteins onto SDS-PAGE gel at three different concentrations, transferred to polyvinylidene difluoride membranes, and probed with rabbit polyclonal anti-SPAK (1:100) and anti-OSR1 (1:1500), respectively. To avoid any participation of antibodies directed against GST epitope, the antibodies were preincubated with excess recombinant GST. Fig. 3 (C and D) shows the relative reactivity of the two antibodies, where anti-SPAK at a dilution of 1:100 yielded a signal 1.7 times stronger than anti-OSR1 at a 1:1500 dilution.
Comparison of SPAK and OSR1 Protein Abundance in Tissues and 50B11 Cells-To compare the protein expression level of SPAK and OSR1 in native tissues, we collected protein samples from mouse dorsal root ganglia, spinal cord, brain cortex, heart, liver, and kidney. Western blot analysis was performed with 200 g of total proteins per lane (Fig. 3E). After densitometry analysis and correction based on the specific reactivity of each antibody, we observed similar SPAK and OSR1 expression levels in DRG, spinal cord, and liver. In contrast, OSR1 was barely detectable in brain cortex and kidney, whereas SPAK was nicely expressed in both tissues; OSR1 expression in heart Absence of WNK3 in 50B11 cells and in rat DRG neurons, compared with mouse DRG neurons is due to the lack of rat-specific WNK3 sequence information. B, central nervous system-specific KCC2 was absent in mouse and rat DRG neurons, as well as in the 50B11 cells, but was present in our positive control brain sample. MAY 22, 2009 • VOLUME 284 • NUMBER 21

JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY 14023
was almost twice the level of SPAK expression. Similar semiquantitative Western blot analysis was performed with protein extracts isolated from 50B11 cells (Fig. 3E, lower panel), cells used in our kinase knockdown experiments (Fig. 4). In these cells, SPAK expression was slightly higher than OSR1 expression (1.5-fold).
OSR1 and SPAK Knockdown Experiments-Given the fact that SPAK and OSR1 have similar protein expression level in 50B11 cells, we investigated the role of each kinase in regulating NKCC1 function through gene silencing, using the shRNA knockdown technique. First, 50B11 cells were transfected with a vector containing a sequence coding for an OSR1 shRNA molecule. After selection, expression of OSR1 and SPAK as well as NKCC1 function were assessed in these cells relative to untransfected 50B11 cells. As shown in Fig. 4A, expression of OSR1 was reduced by 70 -75%, whereas SPAK expression was unchanged. The absence of any effect on SPAK expression argues against any unspecific effect of the OSR1-targeted shRNA. Under these conditions, we observed a ϳ50% reduction in NKCC1 function (Fig. 4B). Second, we targeted SPAK in 50B11 cells by transfecting a vector containing a sequence coding for a SPAK shRNA molecule. Fig. 4 (C and D) shows the data obtained with two independent SPAK knockdown clones isolated after antibiotic selection. In both clones, SPAK expression was reduced by some 55% (Fig. 4C), yielding a 50% decrease in NKCC1 function (Fig. 4C). To address the specificity of the knockdown effect, we performed several control experiments. First, to confirm that the observed sh-OSR1 and sh-SPAK data were not due to unspecific effects related to the viral vector, we transfected 50B11 cells with an irrelevant shRNA-containing vector. As seen in Fig. 5C, this vector did not produce any inhibition of NKCC1. Second, to verify the effect of each kinase on NKCC1 function, we overexpressed OSR1 in 50B11 cells where SPAK was knocked down, and inversely, overexpressed SPAK in OSR1 knockdown 50B11 cells. The Western blot data of Fig.  5A show that overexpression of mSPAK in OSR1 knockdown  1000). B, densitometry analysis shows equivalent signals for both fulllength proteins (10.2 l of GST-SPAK elicits the same signal intensity than 10 l of GST-OSR1). C, quantitation of anti-SPAK and anti-OSR1 antibodies. The same amounts of GST-SPAK and GST-OSR1 were loaded and run in a gel at three different concentrations, transferred, and immunoblotted with anti-SPAK (1:100) and anti-OSR1 (1:1500) antibodies, respectively. D, densitometry analysis shows that anti-SPAK at 1:100 dilution yields a signal 1.7 times stronger than anti-OSR1 at 1:1500 dilution. E and F, Western blot analysis of SPAK and OSR1 expression in DRG, spinal cord, brain cortex, heart, kidney, liver, and 50B11 cells. Equal amount of total protein (200 g) was loaded per lane. Primary antibodies were used at dilutions of 1:100 for SPAK and 1:1500 for OSR1 to quantitate the level of expression. Densitometry analysis demonstrates that OSR1 and SPAK have similar expression levels in DRG, spinal cord, and liver. Note that, in brain and kidney, there is very little OSR1 expression, whereas in heart, OSR1 expression was twice that of SPAK. SPAK expression in 50B11 cells was shown to be 1.5 times higher than OSR1 expression. cells does not affect the decreased level of OSR1 and that mOSR1 is overexpressed in SPAK-KD cells. This overexpression is confirmed with the anti-HA antibody (Fig. 5B). Similar results with anti-SPAK antibody were shown for the reverse conditions (data not shown). The data presented in Fig. 5D confirm that each knockdown could be rescued by the other kinase. Note that transfection of mSPAK resulted in very high expression of the kinase (Fig. 5B), leading to an increased activity of the cotransporter that was significantly above control (Fig. 5D).
Finally, we co-transfected 50B11 cells with the two vectors and obtained several clones with various degrees of SPAK and OSR1 knockdown. Fig. 6 summarizes the data obtained with several stable clones generated (d-KD1 to d-KD5). As seen in Fig. 6, clone d-KD4 expressed Ͻ20% overall kinase expression, resulting in a 70 -75% decrease in bumetanide-sensitive K ϩ uptake. The figure also shows a clear relationship between SPAK and OSR1 expression levels and the level of NKCC1 activity.

NKCC1 Function in Native DRG
Neurons-As shown in panels E and F of Fig. 3, native DRG neurons also express equivalent amounts of SPAK and OSR1 kinases. To assess the role of SPAK in modulating NKCC1 function in these native cells, we developed a single cellbased fluorescence method to assess cotransport activity. The method is based on the ability of cation-chloride cotransporters to carry the monovalent cation Tl ϩ (thallium) on their K ϩ site (23) and on the existence of Tl ϩ -sensitive dyes (24). DRG neurons were isolated from wild-type mice and plated in glassbottom dishes. After attachment to the substrate, the cells were loaded with the thallium-sensitive dye, washed, and imaged by confocal microscopy. Fig. 7A shows that addition of Tl ϩ to the bathing solution resulted in a marked increase in fluorescence, part of which was significantly reduced by the presence of 20 M bumetanide in the bathing solution. The curves shown in Fig.  7B are averaged over a large number of cells. Similar experiments were performed with DRG neurons isolated from SPAK knockout mice. The figure also shows the presence of an ouabain plus bumetanide-insensitive component, which is likely due to Tl ϩ uptake through K ϩ channels and other transporters expressed in these cells. Consistent with the 50B11 cells data, absence of SPAK reduced by ϳ50% the activity of the Na-K-2Cl cotransporter in DRG neurons (Fig. 8).

DISCUSSION
SPAK and OSR1 proteins are both found in tissues such as brain, heart, skeletal muscle, lung, kidney, pancreas, testis, intestine, liver, ovary, thymus, and spleen (14 -17). Although we had reported previously higher SPAK than OSR1 expression levels in the nervous system (17), a direct comparison between their expression levels was difficult to make, because each purified antibody has its own titer and affinity for its target. In this study, we developed a semi-quantitative Western blot method to compare relative SPAK and OSR1 expression levels. After precise calibration of each antibody with GST fusion proteins, we were able to determine that tissues such as brain cortex and kidney express high amounts of SPAK, but very little OSR1, whereas heart tissue expresses more OSR1 than SPAK. Interestingly, tissues such as dorsal root ganglia and spinal cord express similar levels of SPAK and OSR1. However, caution in  MAY 22, 2009 • VOLUME 284 • NUMBER 21 interpreting these data needs to be taken, because tissues are typically not composed of single cell types, but made of a variety of cells with specific properties. This is the reason we sampled superficial brain cortex, to avoid contaminating brain tissue with choroid plexi, which have very high amounts of SPAK. This is also one of the reasons we examined kinase expression levels in a cell line, the 50B11 cells. As demonstrated by our RT-PCR data, these cells have expression pattern of cotransporters and kinases that is similar to that of native dorsal root ganglion neurons. As shown in this study, 50B11 cells express similar levels of SPAK and OSR1 kinases. Our semi-quantitative Western blot method might also be relevant when using antibodies for immunodetection on tissue sections. Although antibodies do not necessarily have the same properties in Western blot and immunofluorescence assays, the method described here provides some quantitative measure of antibody titer and strength.

NKCC1 Regulation in Sensory Neurons
Based on heterologous expression studies, it is well documented that SPAK and OSR1 phosphorylate and activate NKCC1 (10 -12, 25). However, no study has yet examined how SPAK and OSR1, when co-expressed, affect NKCC1 activity in native tissues. The most direct way to address this issue is to generate SPAK and OSR1 knockout mice. Our laboratory has generated both knockout mouse models, and although OSR1 knockout mice are embryonic lethal (data not shown), SPAK knockout mice are viable and present no obvious adverse behavioral phenotype, with the exception of reduced fertility.
To study the effect of SPAK deletion on NKCC1 activity, we chose to examine isolated DRG neurons, which have high NKCC1 activity throughout life and gate sensory information. Because DRG neurons are isolated in limited numbers, we needed a method to assess the activity of the cotransporter in single cells. We adapted a fluorescent methodology that we developed for high throughput screening of cation-chloride cotransporters using confocal microscopy. This method makes use of Tl ϩ as a surrogate of K ϩ and of a Tl ϩ -sensitive fluorescent dye (FluxOR TM ) to visualize Tl ϩ (K ϩ ) uptake through NKCC1 in single cells. The method allows for acquisition of signals of several cells in as single microscopic field and follow-up analysis of signal intensity over time. Our data show that we can demonstrate a significant bumetanide-sensitive portion in the Tl ϩ uptake, indicative of NKCC1 function. When measurements were performed using both wild-type and SPAK knockout DRG neurons, we observed a significant reduction in NKCC1 activity in the knockout neurons, indicating a significant role for SPAK in regulating NKCC1. Interestingly, the function of the cotransporter was not completely abrogated, C, NKCC1 activity (bumetanide-sensitive K ϩ flux) was plotted as a function of kinase expression. Data are from wild-type B5011 cells (100% SPAK plus OSR1 expression) and from different 50B11 clones co-transfected with vectors carrying shRNA targeting both SPAK and OSR1. Data were best fitted with a non-linear regression using GraphPad Prism, version 3. Note the close relationship between kinase abundance and NKCC1 activity. indicating that another kinase could activate NKCC1 in these SPAK-deficient cells.
In the absence of a viable OSR1 knockout animal, we took another approach and used gene silencing in cultured cells to demonstrate the combined roles of SPAK and OSR1 in regulating NKC1 function. As mentioned above, 50B11 cells have been isolated as a nociceptive dorsal root ganglion sensory cell line. Undifferentiated, these cells might not have all properties of native DRG neurons. However, because the cells express all cotransporters and kinases of native DRG cells and express similar levels of SPAK and OSR1, they constitute an adequate model to address the role of the kinases in NKCC1 regulation.
To silence SPAK and OSR1 expression, we expressed shRNA molecules delivered via transfected vectors. As many studies have indicated, shRNA silencing of native genes is generally not as efficient as knockout animals, because complete silencing is rarely obtained (26,27). In our experiments, we chose a short hairpin structure, which adopts the structure of human micro-RNA mir30, and which was reported to produce highly efficient RNAi effect (27). With this structure, we successfully reduced SPAK expression level to Ͻ50% in 50B11 cells. Consistent with our SPAK knockout experiment, NKCC1 activity was significantly affected by a 50% reduction in SPAK expression (see Fig.  4). Furthermore, as anticipated based on the SPAK knockout experiments, we also demonstrated that OSR1 participated in the regulation of NKCC1, because its knockdown in 50B11 cells resulted also in significant attenuation of NKCC1 activity (see Fig. 4). Thus, reducing either kinase only leads to a partial reduction of NKCC1 function, whereas reducing both kinases resulted in additive effect. During the process of generating double knockdown of SPAK and OSR1, we obtained cell lines with different degrees of SPAK and OSR1 knockdown. Considering that SPAK and OSR1 total to 100% Ste20 kinase expression in wild-type 50B11 cells, and given the fact that SPAK expression was determined to be 1.5 times the level of OSR1 expression (see Fig. 3E), we were able to provide a direct relationship between SPAK plus OSR1 expression and NKCC1 activity, as measured through bumetanide-sensitive K ϩ flux (see Fig. 8). Taken together, our SPAK knockout data and silencing data in 50B11 cells demonstrate that both SPAK and OSR1 participate in the regulation of NKCC1 in dorsal root ganglion neurons. Our data also argue that expression of the Ste20 kinases is limiting, because function of the cotransporter can be modified by manipulating the expression level of the two kinases. These data do not, however, preclude regulation of these kinases by post-translational modifications. In fact, work performed in our laboratory and others have shown that SPAK and OSR1 are themselves the target of phosphorylation by upstream kinases, such as the WNK kinases.
Aside from demonstrating the redundancy in kinase function, our present study introduced three novel approaches for the study of kinase-cotransporter function: the creation and use of a SPAK-deficient mouse, the development of a semi-quantitative Western blot method, and the development of a method to assess NKCC1 function in single cells. These methods will allow us and others to further address the role of kinases in regulating cotransporter function.