The osmolyte xylitol reduces the salt concentration of airway surface liquid and may enhance bacterial killing

Joseph Zabner; Michael P Seiler; Janice L Launspach; Philip H Karp; William R Kearney; Dwight C Look; Jeffrey J Smith; Michael J Welsh

doi:10.1073/pnas.97.21.11614

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The osmolyte xylitol reduces the salt concentration of airway surface liquid and may enhance bacterial killing

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The osmolyte xylitol reduces the salt concentration of airway surface liquid and may enhance bacterial killing

Joseph Zabner, Michael P Seiler, Janice L Launspach, Philip H Karp, William R Kearney, Dwight C Look, Jeffrey J Smith and Michael J Welsh

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS, Vol.97(21), pp.11614-11619

10/10/2000

DOI: 10.1073/pnas.97.21.11614

PMCID: PMC17249

PMID: 11027360

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Abstract

The thin layer of airway surface liquid (ASL) contains antimicrobial substances that kill the small numbers of bacteria that are constantly being deposited in the lungs. An increase in ASL salt concentration inhibits the activity of airway antimicrobial factors and may partially explain the pathogenesis of cystic fibrosis (CF). We tested the hypothesis that an osmolyte with a low transepithelial permeability may lower the ASL salt concentration, thereby enhancing innate immunity. We found that the five-carbon sugar xylitol has a low transepithelial permeability, is poorly metabolized by several bacteria, and can lower the ASL salt concentration in both CF and non-CF airway epithelia in vitro . Furthermore, in a double-blind, randomized, crossover study, xylitol sprayed for 4 days into each nostril of normal volunteers significantly decreased the number of nasal coagulase-negative Staphylococcus compared with saline control. Xylitol may be of value in decreasing ASL salt concentration and enhancing the innate antimicrobial defense at the airway surface.

Biological Sciences

Details

Title: Subtitle: The osmolyte xylitol reduces the salt concentration of airway surface liquid and may enhance bacterial killing
Creators: Joseph Zabner - Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Departments of
Michael P Seiler - Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Departments of
Janice L Launspach - Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Departments of
Philip H Karp - Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Departments of
William R Kearney - Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Departments of
Dwight C Look - Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Departments of
Jeffrey J Smith - Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Departments of
Michael J Welsh - Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Departments of
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS, Vol.97(21), pp.11614-11619
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.97.21.11614
PMID: 11027360
PMCID: PMC17249
NLM abbreviation: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
ISSN: 0027-8424
eISSN: 1091-6490
Publisher: National Academy of Sciences
Language: English
Date published: 10/10/2000
Academic Unit: Neurology; Radiology; Molecular Physiology and Biophysics; Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Occupational Medicine; Stead Family Department of Pediatrics; Neurosurgery; Internal Medicine
Record Identifier: 9984017708902771

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