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Bioelectric Properties of Chloride Channels in Human, Pig, Ferret, and Mouse Airway Epithelia
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Bioelectric Properties of Chloride Channels in Human, Pig, Ferret, and Mouse Airway Epithelia

Xiaoming Liu, Meihui Luo, Liang Zhang, Wei Ding, Ziying Yan and John F Engelhardt
American journal of respiratory cell and molecular biology, Vol.36(3), pp.313-323
03/2007
DOI: 10.1165/rcmb.2006-0286OC
PMCID: PMC1894945
PMID: 17008635
url
https://doi.org/10.1165/rcmb.2006-0286OCView
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

The development of effective therapies for cystic fibrosis (CF) requires animal models that can appropriately reproduce the human disease phenotype. CF mouse models have demonstrated cAMP-inducible, non–CF transmembrane conductance regulator (non-CFTR) chloride transport in conducting airway epithelia, and this property is thought to be responsible for the lack of a spontaneous CF-like phenotype in the lung. Thus, an understanding of species diversity in airway epithelial electrolyte transport and CFTR function is critical to developing better models for CF. Two species currently being used in attempts to develop better animal models of CF include the pig and ferret. In the study reported here, we sought to comparatively characterize the bioelectric properties of in vitro polarized airway epithelia—from human, mouse, pig and ferret—grown at the air–liquid interface (ALI). Bioelectric properties analyzed include amiloride-sensitive Na + transport, 4,4′-diisothiocyanato-stilbene-2,2′-disulfonic acid (DIDS)-sensitive Cl − transport, and cAMP-sensitive Cl − transport. In addition, as an index for CFTR functional conservation, we evaluated the ability of four CFTR inhibitors, including glibenclamide, 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropyl-amino)-benzoic acid, CFTR inh -172, and CFTR inh -GlyH101, to block cAMP-mediated Cl − transport. Compared with human epithelia, pig epithelia demonstrated enhanced amiloride-sensitive Na + transport. In contrast, ferret epithelia exhibited significantly reduced DIDS-sensitive Cl − transport. Interestingly, although the four CFTR inhibitors effectively blocked cAMP-mediated Cl − secretion in human airway epithelia, each species tested demonstrated unique differences in its responsiveness to these inhibitors. These findings suggest the existence of substantial species-specific differences at the level of the biology of airway epithelial electrolyte transport, and potentially also in terms of CFTR structure/function.
airway biology ion transport species cystic fibrosis airway epithelium

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