A Vasopressin-Induced Change in Prostaglandin Receptor Subtype Expression Explains the Differential Effect of PGE(2) on AQP2 Expression

Arginine vasopressin (AVP) stimulates the concentration of renal urine by increasing the principal cell expression of aquaporin-2 (AQP2) water channels. Prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) and prostaglandin(2α) (PGF(2α)) increase the water absorption of the principal cell without AVP, but PGE(2) decreases it in the presence of AVP. The underlying mechanism of this paradoxical response was investigated here. Mouse cortical collecting duct (mkpCCD(c14)) cells mimic principal cells as they endogenously express AQP2 in response to AVP. PGE(2) increased AQP2 abundance without desmopressin (dDAVP), while in the presence of dDAVP, PGE(2), and PGF(2α) reduced AQP2 abundance. dDAVP increased the cellular PGD(2) and PGE(2) release and decreased the PGF(2α) release. MpkCCD cells expressed mRNAs for the receptors of PGE(2) (EP1/EP4), PGF(2) (FP), and TxB(2) (TP). Incubation with dDAVP increased the expression of EP1 and FP but decreased the expression of EP4. In the absence of dDAVP, incubation of mpkCCD cells with an EP4, but not EP1/3, agonist increased AQP2 abundance, and the PGE(2)-induced increase in AQP2 was blocked with an EP4 antagonist. Moreover, in the presence of dDAVP, an EP1/3, but not EP4, agonist decreased the AQP2 abundance, and the addition of EP1 antagonists prevented the PGE(2)-mediated downregulation of AQP2. Our study shows that in mpkCCD(c14) cells, reduced EP4 receptor and increased EP1/FP receptor expression by dDAVP explains the differential effects of PGE(2) and PGF(2α) on AQP2 abundance with or without dDAVP. As the V2R and EP4 receptor, but not the EP1 and FP receptor, can couple to Gs and stimulate the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) pathway, our data support a view that cells can desensitize themselves for receptors activating the same pathway and sensitize themselves for receptors of alternative pathways.