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Regulation of murine airway surface liquid volume by CFTR and Ca2+-activated Cl- conductances

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Michael Gray, Professor Barry Argent

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Abstract

Two Cl- conductances have been described in the apical membrane of both human and murine proximal airway epithelia that are thought to play predominant roles in airway hydration: (1) CFTR, which is cAMP regulated and (2) the Ca2+-activated Cl- conductance (CaCC) whose molecular identity is uncertain. In addition to second messenger regulation, cross talk between these two channels may also exist and, whereas CFTR is absent or defective in cystic fibrosis (CF) airways, CaCC is preserved, and may even be up-regulated. Increased CaCC activity in CF airways is controversial. Hence, we have investigated the effects of CFTR on CaCC activity and have also assessed the relative contributions of these two conductances to airway surface liquid (ASL) height (volume) in murine tracheal epithelia. We find that CaCC is up-regulated in intact murine CF tracheal epithelia, which leads to an increase in UTP-mediated Cl-/volume secretion. This up-regulation is dependent on cell polarity and is lost in nonpolarized epithelia. We find no role for an increased electrical driving force in CaCC up-regulation but do find an increased Ca2+ signal in response to mucosal nucleotides that may contribute to the increased Cl-/volume secretion seen in intact epithelia. CFTR plays a critical role in maintaining ASL height under basal conditions and accordingly, ASL height is reduced in CF epithelia. In contrast, CaCC does not appear to significantly affect basal ASL height, but does appear to be important in regulating ASL height in response to released agonists (e.g., mucosal nucleotides). We conclude that both CaCC and the Ca2+ signal are increased in CF airway epithelia, and that they contribute to acute but not basal regulation of ASL height.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Gray MA; Argent BE; Tarran R; Loewen ME; Paradiso AM; Olsen JC; Boucher RC; Gabriel SE

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Journal of General Physiology

Year: 2002

Volume: 120

Issue: 3

Pages: 407-418

ISSN (print): 0022-1295

ISSN (electronic): 1540-7748

Publisher: Rockefeller University Press

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1085/jgp.20028599

DOI: 10.1085/jgp.20028599

PubMed id: 12198094


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Funding

Funder referenceFunder name
HL62564NHLBI NIH HHS
R01 HL062564NHLBI NIH HHS

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