Influence of Dietary Sodium on the Renal Isoforms of 11β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase

Abstract

Endogenous glucocorticoids are converted to their biologically inert 11-dehydroderivatives by isoforms of the enzyme 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11β-HSD). The low-K _m, NAD⁺-dependent renal isoform (Type 2) identified in the distal nephron protects mineralocorticoid receptors from activation by endogenous glucocorticoids. The function of high-K _m, NADP⁺-dependent renal isoform (Type 1) is less well understood. Since glucocorticoids may modulate sodium transport in renal proximal tubules (PT), we hypothesized that Type 1 activity in this segment may be regulated by dietary Na⁺. 11β-HSD activity was assessed in homogenates of canine PT by the conversion of cortisol to cortisone in the presence of NADP⁺ 200 μM. A high-Na⁺ diet for 4 days increased the V _max 4-fold, with no change in the Type 1 K _m (40 mEq/day Na⁺ diet: K _m 0.959 μM, V _max 3.40 pmoles/min/mg protein versus 150 mEq/day Na⁺ diet: K _m 0.962 μM, V _max 14.8 pmoles/min/mg protein). Type 1 mRNA also rose in the salt repleted animals. The high-Na⁺ diet produced no detectable change in the Type 2 isoform enzyme kinetics and mRNA level. No reverse oxo-reductase activity was noted with either renal isoform. Thus, renal Type 1 11β-HSD can be regulated by dietary Na⁺ independent of changes in the renal Type 2 isoform.