Migration of monocytes-macrophages plays an important role in phagocytosis of pathogens and cellular debris in a variety of pathophysiological conditions. Although epithelial Na+ channels (ENaCs) are required for normal migratory responses in other cell types, their role in macrophage migration signaling is unknown. To address this possibility, we determined whether ENaC message is present in several peripheral blood monocyte cell populations and tissue-resident macrophages in healthy humans using the Human Protein Atlas database (www.proteinatlas.org) and the mouse monocyte cell line RAW 264.7 using RT-PCR. We then determined that selective ENaC inhibition with amiloride inhibited chemotactic migration (∼50%), but not phagocytosis, of the mouse monocyte-macrophage cell line RAW 264.7. Furthermore, we generated a cell line stably expressing an NH2-terminal truncated αENaC to interrupt normal channel trafficking and found it suppressed migration. Prolonged exposure (48 h) of RAW 264.7 cells to proinflammatory cytokines interferon γ (IFNγ) and/or tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) inhibited RAW 264.7 migration and abolished the amiloride (1 µM)-sensitive component of migration, a finding consistent with ENaC downregulation. To determine if proinflammatory cytokines regulate αENaC protein expression, cells were exposed to proinflammatory cytokines IFNγ (10 ng/mL, last 48 h) and TNFα (10 ng/mL, last 24 h). By Western blot analysis, we found whole cell αENaC protein is reduced ≥50%. Immunofluorescence demonstrated heterogeneous αENaC inhibition. Finally, we found that overnight exposure to amiloride stimulated morphological changes and increased polarization marker expression. Our findings suggest that ENaC may be a critical molecule in macrophage migration and polarization.
Keywords: ENaC; macrophage; migration.