Effects of a new cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator inhibitor on Cl- conductance in human sweat ducts

Use of a High-Throughput Phenotypic Screening Strategy to Identify Amplifiers, a Novel Pharmacological Class of Small Molecules That Exhibit Functional Synergy with Potentiators and Correctors

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a lethal genetic disorder caused by mutation of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. Despite recent groundbreaking approval of genotype-specific small-molecule drugs, a significant portion of CF patients still lack effective therapeutic options that address the underlying cause of the disease. Through a phenotypic high-throughput screen of approximately 54,000 small molecules, we identified a novel class of CFTR modulators called amplifiers. The identified compound, the characteristics of which are represented here by PTI-CH, selectively increases the expression of immature CFTR protein across different CFTR mutations, including F508del-CFTR, by targeting the inefficiencies of early CFTR biosynthesis. PTI-CH also augments the activity of other CFTR modulators and was found to possess novel characteristics that distinguish it from CFTR potentiator and corrector moieties. The PTI-CH-mediated increase in F508del-CFTR did not elicit cytosolic or endoplasmic reticulum-associated cellular stress responses. Based on these data, amplifiers represent a promising new class of CFTR modulators for the treatment of CF that can be used synergistically with other CFTR modulators.

Roscovitine is a proteostasis regulator that corrects the trafficking defect of F508del-CFTR by a CDK-independent mechanism

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The most common mutation in cystic fibrosis (CF), F508del, causes defects in trafficking, channel gating and endocytosis of the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein. Because CF is an orphan disease, therapeutic strategies aimed at improving mutant CFTR functions are needed to target the root cause of CF.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

Human CF airway epithelial cells were treated with roscovitine 100 μM for 2 h before CFTR maturation, expression and activity were examined. The mechanism of action of roscovitine was explored by recording the effect of depleting endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca(2+) on the F508del-CFTR/calnexin interaction and by measuring proteasome activity.

KEY RESULTS

Of the cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitors investigated, roscovitine was found to restore the cell surface expression and defective channel function of F508del-CFTR in human CF airway epithelial cells. Neither olomoucine nor (S)-CR8, two very efficient CDK inhibitors, corrected F508del-CFTR trafficking demonstrating that the correcting effect of roscovitine was independent of CDK inhibition. Competition studies with inhibitors of the ER quality control (ERQC) indicated that roscovitine acts on the calnexin pathway and on the degradation machinery. Roscovitine was shown (i) to partially inhibit the interaction between F508del-CFTR and calnexin by depleting ER Ca(2+) and (ii) to directly inhibit the proteasome activity in a Ca(2+) -independent manner.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Roscovitine is able to correct the defective function of F508del-CFTR by preventing the ability of the ERQC to interact with and degrade F508del-CFTR via two synergistic but CDK-independent mechanisms. Roscovitine has potential as a pharmacological therapy for CF.

Functional reconstitution and channel activity measurements of purified wildtype and mutant CFTR protein

The Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR) is a unique channel-forming member of the ATP Binding Cassette (ABC) superfamily of transporters. The phosphorylation and nucleotide dependent chloride channel activity of CFTR has been frequently studied in whole cell systems and as single channels in excised membrane patches. Many Cystic Fibrosis-causing mutations have been shown to alter this activity. While a small number of purification protocols have been published, a fast reconstitution method that retains channel activity and a suitable method for studying population channel activity in a purified system have been lacking. Here rapid methods are described for purification and functional reconstitution of the full-length CFTR protein into proteoliposomes of defined lipid composition that retains activity as a regulated halide channel. This reconstitution method together with a novel flux-based assay of channel activity is a suitable system for studying the population channel properties of wild type CFTR and the disease-causing mutants F508del- and G551D-CFTR. Specifically, the method has utility in studying the direct effects of phosphorylation, nucleotides and small molecules such as potentiators and inhibitors on CFTR channel activity. The methods are also amenable to the study of other membrane channels/transporters for anionic substrates.

Bioactivity-guided fractionation of an antidiarrheal Chinese herb Rhodiola kirilowii (Regel) Maxim reveals (-)-epicatechin-3-gallate and (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate as inhibitors of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator

Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is the principal apical route for transepithelial fluid transport induced by enterotoxin. Inhibition of CFTR has been confirmed as a pharmaceutical approach for the treatment of secretory diarrhea. Many traditional Chinese herbal medicines, like Rhodiola kirilowii (Regel) Maxim, have long been used for the treatment of secretory diarrhea. However, the active ingredients responsible for their therapeutic effectiveness remain unknown. The purpose of this study is to identify CFTR inhibitors from Rhodiola kirilowii (Regel) Maxim via bioactivity-directed isolation strategy. We first identified fractions of Rhodiola kirilowii (Regel) Maxim that inhibited CFTR Cl^- channel activity. Further bioactivity-directed fractionation led to the identification of (-)–epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) as CFTR Cl^- channel inhibitor. Analysis of 5 commercially available EGCG analogs including (+)–catechins (C), (-)–epicatechin (EC), (-)–epigallocatechin (EGC), (-)–epicatechin-3-gallate (ECG) and EGCG revealed that ECG also had CFTR inhibitory activity. EGCG dose-dependently and reversibly inhibited CFTR Cl^- channel activity in transfected FRT cells with an IC₅₀ value around 100 μM. In ex vivo studies, EGCG and ECG inhibited CFTR-mediated short-circuit currents in isolated rat colonic mucosa in a dose-dependent manner. In an intestinal closed-loop model in mice, intraluminal application of EGCG (10 μg) and ECG (10 μg) significantly reduced cholera toxin-induced intestinal fluid secretion. CFTR Cl^- channel is a molecular target of natural compounds EGCG and ECG. CFTR inhibition may account, at least in part, for the antidiarrheal activity of Rhodiola kirilowii (Regel) Maxim. EGCG and ECG could be new lead compounds for development of CFTR-related diseases such as secretory diarrhea.

Differentiation between human ClC-2 and CFTR Cl− channels with pharmacological agents

It has been difficult to separate/identify the roles of ClC-2 and CFTR in Cl− transport studies. Using pharmacological agents, we aimed to differentiate functionally between ClC-2 and CFTR Cl− channel currents. Effects of CFTR inhibitor 172 (CFTRinh172), N-(4-methylphenylsulfonyl)- N′-(4-trifluoromethylphenyl)urea (DASU-02), and methadone were examined by whole cell patch clamp on Cl− currents in recombinant human ClC-2/human embryonic kidney 293 (ClC-2/HEK293) cells stably transformed with Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen 1 (hClC-2/293EBNA) and human CFTR/HEK293 (hCFTR/HEK293) cells and by short-circuit current ( Isc) measurements in T84 cells. Lubiprostone and forskolin-IBMX were used as activators. CFTRinh172 inhibited forskolin-IBMX-stimulated recombinant human CFTR (hCFTR) and lubiprostone-stimulated recombinant human ClC-2 (hClC-2) Cl− currents in a concentration-dependent manner equipotently. DASU-02 inhibited forskolin-IBMX-stimulated Cl− currents in hCFTR/HEK293 cells, but not lubiprostone-stimulated Cl− currents in hClC-2/293EBNA cells. In T84 cells with basolateral nystatin or 1-ethyl-2-benzimidazolinone (1-EBIO), lubiprostone-stimulated and forskolin-IBMX-cyclosporin A (FICA)-stimulated Isc components were observed. CFTRinh172 inhibited major portions of both components. DASU-02 had no effect on lubiprostone-stimulated Isc but partially inhibited FICA-stimulated Isc. T84 cells in which ClC-2 or CFTR was knocked down using siRNAs were constructed. T84 ClC-2 knockdown cells did not respond to lubiprostone but did respond to forskolin-IBMX in a methadone-insensitive, DASU-02-sensitive manner, indicating CFTR function. T84 CFTR knockdown cells responded separately to lubiprostone and forskolin-IBMX in a methadone-sensitive and DASU-02-insensitive manner, indicating ClC-2 function. Low lubiprostone concentrations activated ClC-2, but not CFTR, and both channels were activated by forskolin-IBMX but have different inhibitor sensitivities. Methadone, but not DASU-02, inhibited ClC-2. DASU-02, but not methadone, inhibited CFTR. In T84 cells, both ClC-2 and CFTR are present and likely play roles in Cl− secretion.

Identification of resveratrol oligomers as inhibitors of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator by high-throughput screening of natural products from chinese medicinal plants

Inhibitors of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) have been widely used for characterizing CFTR function in epithelial fluid transport and in diseases such as secretory diarrhea, polycystic kidney disease and cystic fibrosis. Few small molecule CFTR inhibitors have been discovered so far from combinatorial compound library. In the present study, we used a high throughput screening (HTS)-based natural product discovery strategy to identify new CFTR inhibitors from Chinese medicinal herbs. By screening 40,000 small molecule fractions from 500 herbal plants, we identified 42 positive fractions from 5 herbs and isolated two compounds that inhibited CFTR conductance from Chinese wild grapevine (Vitis amurensis Rupr). Mass spectrometry (MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) studies determined the two active compounds as trans-ε-viniferin (TV) and r-2-viniferin (RV), respectively. Both compounds dose-dependently blocked CFTR-mediated iodide influx with IC₅₀ around 20 μM. Further analysis by excised inside-out patch-clamp indicated strong inhibition of protein kinase A (PKA)-activated CFTR chloride currents by TV and RV. In ex vivo studies, TV and RV inhibited CFTR-mediated short-circuit Cl⁻ currents in isolated rat colonic mucosa in a dose-dependent manner. In a closed-loop mouse model, intraluminal applications of TV (2.5 μg) and RV (4.5 μg) significantly reduced cholera toxin–induced intestinal fluid secretion. The present study identified two resveratrol oligomers as new CFTR inhibitors and validates our high-throughput screening method for discovery of bioactive compounds from natural products with complex chemical ingredients such as herbal plants.

Lubiprostone decreases mouse colonic inner mucus layer thickness and alters intestinal microbiota

BACKGROUND

Lubiprostone has been used to treat constipation through its effects to stimulate Cl(-) secretion, resulting in water and electrolyte secretion.

AIM

Potential associated changes in intestinal mucus and the colonizing bacteria (microbiome) have not been studied. As mucus obstructions may play a role in cystic fibrosis, the hypothesis that lubiprostone alters intestinal mucus and the microbiome was investigated.

METHODS

Ion transport studies were performed ex vivo. For mucus and microbiome studies, mice were gavaged daily with lubiprostone or vehicle. Mucin from intestinal sections was analyzed in Carnoy's fixed tissues stained with Alcian blue. Microbiome composition was analyzed by 16S rRNA gene-based sequencing.

RESULTS

Lubiprostone stimulated short circuit current in all mouse intestinal segments after both serosal and mucosal additions, albeit at lower concentrations in the latter. Current was Cl-dependent and blocked by mucosal diphenylcarboxylic acid, serosal bumetanide, and serosal Ba(++). The CFTR inhibitor CFTRinh172 had a marginal effect. Mucus near epithelial cells (inner layer mucus) was not present in the small intestine of any mice. Proximal colon inner mucus layer was thicker in ∆F/∆F compared with +/∆F and +/+ mice. Lubiprostone decreased inner mucus layer thickness in both proximal and distal colon of all mice. Furthermore, lubiprostone altered the intestinal microbiome by increasing abundance of Lactobacillus and Alistipes.

CONCLUSIONS

Lubiprostone activates non-CFTR Cl(-) secretion and alters the colonic inner mucus layer, which is associated with changes in the composition of the enteric microbiome.

Optical control of endogenous proteins with a photoswitchable conditional subunit reveals a role for TREK1 in GABA(B) signaling

Selective ligands are lacking for many neuronal signaling proteins. Photoswitched tethered ligands (PTLs) have enabled fast and reversible control of specific proteins containing a PTL anchoring site and have been used to remote control overexpressed proteins. We report here a scheme for optical remote control of native proteins using a "photoswitchable conditional subunit" (PCS), which contains the PTL anchoring site as well as a mutation that prevents it from reaching the plasma membrane. In cells lacking native subunits for the protein, the PCS remains nonfunctional internally. However, in cells expressing native subunits, the native subunit and PCS coassemble, traffic to the plasma membrane, and place the native protein under optical control provided by the coassembled PCS. We apply this approach to the TREK1 potassium channel, which lacks selective, reversible blockers. We find that TREK1, typically considered to be a leak channel, contributes to the hippocampal GABA(B) response.

Transgenic hCFTR expression fails to correct β-ENaC mouse lung disease

The relationships between airway epithelial Cl(-) secretion-Na(+) absorption balance, airway surface liquid (ASL) homeostasis, and lung disease were investigated in selected transgenic mice. 1) To determine if transgenic overexpression of wild-type (WT) human CFTR (hCFTR) accelerated Cl(-) secretion and regulated Na(+) absorption in murine airways, we utilized a Clara cell secretory protein (CCSP)-specific promoter to generate mice expressing airway-specific hCFTR. Ussing chamber studies revealed significantly (∼2.5-fold) elevated basal Cl(-) secretory currents in CCSP-hCFTR transgenic mouse airways. Endogenous murine airway Na(+) absorption was not regulated by hCFTR, and these mice exhibited no lung disease. 2) We tested whether hCFTR, transgenically expressed on a transgenic mouse background overexpressing the β-subunit of the epithelial Na(+) channel (β-ENaC), restored ion transport balance and ASL volume homeostasis and ameliorated lung disease. Both transgenes were active in CCSP-hCFTR/β-ENaC transgenic mouse airways, which exhibited an elevated basal Cl(-) secretion and Na(+) hyperabsorption. However, the airway disease characteristic of β-ENaC mice persisted. Confocal studies of ASL volume homeostasis in cultured tracheal cells revealed ASL autoregulation to a height of ∼6 μm in WT and CCSP-hCFTR cultures, whereas ASL was reduced to <4 μm in β-ENaC and CCSP-hCFTR/β-ENaC cultures. We conclude that 1) hCFTR overexpression increases basal Cl(-) secretion but does not regulate Na(+) transport in WT mice and 2) transgenic hCFTR produces increased Cl(-) secretion, but not regulation of Na(+) channels, in β-ENaC mouse airways and does not ameliorate β-ENaC mouse lung disease.

Divergent CFTR orthologs respond differently to the channel inhibitors CFTRinh-172, glibenclamide, and GlyH-101

Comparison of diverse orthologs is a powerful tool to study the structure and function of channel proteins. We investigated the response of human, killifish, pig, and shark cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) to specific inhibitors of the channel: CFTR(inh)-172, glibenclamide, and GlyH-101. In three systems, including organ perfusion of the shark rectal gland, primary cultures of shark rectal gland tubules, and expression studies of each ortholog in cRNA microinjected Xenopus laevis oocytes, we observed fundamental differences in the sensitivity to inhibition by these channel blockers. In organ perfusion studies, shark CFTR was insensitive to inhibition by CFTR(inh)-172. This insensitivity was also seen in short-circuit current experiments with cultured rectal gland tubular epithelial cells (maximum inhibition 4 ± 1.3%). In oocyte expression studies, shark CFTR was again insensitive to CFTR(inh)-172 (maximum inhibition 10.3 ± 2.5% at 25 μM), pig CFTR was insensitive to glibenclamide (maximum inhibition 18.4 ± 4.4% at 250 μM), and all orthologs were sensitive to GlyH-101. The amino acid residues considered responsible by previous site-directed mutagenesis for binding of the three inhibitors are conserved in the four CFTR isoforms studied. These experiments demonstrate a profound difference in the sensitivity of different orthologs of CFTR proteins to inhibition by CFTR blockers that cannot be explained by mutagenesis of single amino acids. We believe that the potency of the inhibitors CFTR(inh)-172, glibenclamide, and GlyH-101 on the CFTR chloride channel protein is likely dictated by the local environment and the three-dimensional structure of additional residues that form the vestibules, the chloride pore, and regulatory regions of the channel.

Human cystic fibrosis airway epithelia have reduced Cl- conductance but not increased Na+ conductance

Loss of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) anion channel function causes cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease. CFTR is expressed in airway epithelia, but how CF alters electrolyte transport across airway epithelia has remained uncertain. Recent studies of a porcine model showed that in vivo, excised, and cultured CFTR(-/-) and CFTR(ΔF508/ΔF508) airway epithelia lacked anion conductance, and they did not hyperabsorb Na(+). Therefore, we asked whether Cl(-) and Na(+) conductances were altered in human CF airway epithelia. We studied differentiated primary cultures of tracheal/bronchial epithelia and found that transepithelial conductance (Gt) under basal conditions and the cAMP-stimulated increase in Gt were markedly attenuated in CF epithelia compared with non-CF epithelia. These data reflect loss of the CFTR anion conductance. In CF and non-CF epithelia, the Na(+) channel inhibitor amiloride produced similar reductions in Gt and Na(+) absorption, indicating that Na(+) conductance in CF epithelia did not exceed that in non-CF epithelia. Consistent with previous reports, adding amiloride caused greater reductions in transepithelial voltage and short-circuit current in CF epithelia than in non-CF epithelia; these changes are attributed to loss of a Cl(-) conductance. These results indicate that Na(+) conductance was not increased in these cultured CF tracheal/bronchial epithelia and point to loss of anion transport as key to airway epithelial dysfunction in CF.

Involvement of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator in the acidosis-induced efflux of ATP from rat skeletal muscle

The present study was performed to investigate the effect of acidosis on the efflux of ATP from skeletal muscle. Infusion of lactic acid to the perfused hindlimb muscles of anaesthetised rats produced dose-dependent decreases in pH and increases in the interstitial ATP of extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscle: 10 mM lactic acid reduced the venous pH from 7.22 ± 0.04 to 6.97 ± 0.02 and increased interstitial ATP from 38 ± 8 to 67 ± 11 nM. The increase in interstitial ATP was well-correlated with the decrease in pH (r(2) = 0.93; P < 0.05). Blockade of cellular uptake of lactic acid using α-cyano-hydroxycinnamic acid abolished the lactic acid-induced ATP release, whilst infusion of sodium lactate failed to depress pH or increase interstitial ATP, suggesting that intracellular pH depression, rather than lactate, stimulated the ATP efflux. Incubation of cultured skeletal myoblasts with 10 mM lactic acid significantly increased the accumulation of ATP in the bathing medium from 0.46 ± 0.06 to 0.76 ± 0.08 μM, confirming the skeletal muscle cells as the source of the released ATP. Acidosis-induced ATP efflux from the perfused muscle was abolished by CFTR(inh)-172, a specific inhibitor of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), or glibenclamide, an inhibitor of both K(ATP) channels and CFTR, but it was not affected by atractyloside, an inhibitor of the mitochondrial ATP transporter. Silencing of the CFTR gene using an siRNA abolished the acidosis-induced increase in ATP release from cultured myoblasts. CFTR expression on skeletal muscle cells was confirmed using immunostaining in the intact muscle and Western blotting in the cultured cells. These data suggest that depression of the intracellular pH of skeletal muscle cells stimulates ATP efflux, and that CFTR plays an important role in the release mechanism.

Synergistic airway gland mucus secretion in response to vasoactive intestinal peptide and carbachol is lost in cystic fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is caused by dysfunction of the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), an anion channel whose dysfunction leads to chronic bacterial and fungal airway infections via a pathophysiological cascade that is incompletely understood. Airway glands, which produce most airway mucus, do so in response to both acetylcholine (ACh) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP). CF glands fail to secrete mucus in response to VIP, but do so in response to ACh. Because vagal cholinergic pathways still elicit strong gland mucus secretion in CF subjects, it is unclear whether VIP-stimulated, CFTR-dependent gland secretion participates in innate defense. It was recently hypothesized that airway intrinsic neurons, which express abundant VIP and ACh, are normally active and stimulate low-level gland mucus secretion that is a component of innate mucosal defenses. Here we show that low levels of VIP and ACh produced significant mucus secretion in human glands via strong synergistic interactions; synergy was lost in glands of CF patients. VIP/ACh synergy also existed in pig glands, where it was CFTR dependent, mediated by both Cl(-) and HCO(3) (-), and clotrimazole sensitive. Loss of "housekeeping" gland mucus secretion in CF, in combination with demonstrated defects in surface epithelia, may play a role in the vulnerability of CF airways to bacterial infections.

Maintaining low Ca2+ level in the endoplasmic reticulum restores abnormal endogenous F508del-CFTR trafficking in airway epithelial cells

The most common mutation in cystic fibrosis, F508del, results in cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator protein (CFTR) that is retained in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Retention is dependent on chaperone proteins, many of which, like calnexin, require calcium for optimal activity. Here, we show that a limited and a maintained ER calcium level is sufficient to inhibit the F508del-CFTR/calnexin interaction and to restore the cAMP-dependent CFTR chloride transport, thus showing the correction of abnormal trafficking. We used Western blot analysis, iodide efflux and calcium measurement techniques applied to the human airway epithelial cystic fibrosis cell line CF15 (F508del/F508del). The inhibition of ER calcium pump, with thapsigargin, curcumin, 2,5-di(t-butyl)hydroquinone or cyclopiazonic acid, maintains a threshold levels of calcium that is correlated to the recovery of endogenous F508del-CFTR transport activity. In particular, cyclopiazonic acid restores a 2-aminoethyoxydiphenyl borate-sensitive F508del-CFTR trafficking with an EC50 of 915 nm. By contrast, the 1,4,5-trisphosphate or IP3 receptor activators, i.e., ATP and histamine, while transiently emptying the ER intracellular calcium store, did not affect the trafficking of F508del-CFTR. Our data suggest that decreasing the ER calcium level is not sufficient to restore the defective trafficking of F508del-CFTR, whereas decreasing and also maintaining low ER calcium level allow correction of defective biosynthetic pathway of endogenous F508del-CFTR in human airway epithelial cells.

Chloride transport in NCL-SG3 sweat gland cells: Channels involved

The aim of the study was to assess whether NCL-SG3, the only immortalized sweat gland cell line available, can be used as an in vitro model to study chloride ion transport in cultured sweat gland cells. Cl(-) efflux was measured using the MQAE dye fluorescence technique after stimulating the cells with different agonists. A significant stimulation of chloride efflux was achieved with the calcium ionophore A23187 resulting in an efflux rate of 0.9 mM/s. Both ATP and UTP activated chloride efflux in these cells, with the ATP response being larger. IBMX and forskolin stimulation did not induce a rate of chloride efflux above the basal level. Immunocytochemistry showed no detectable CFTR in NCL-SG3 cells. This finding was confirmed with flow cytometry analysis. Niflumic acid (20 and 100 microM NFA) and 4,4'-diisothiocyanatodihydrostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (H2DIDS) (100 ìM) decreased the rate of ATP-stimulated chloride efflux significantly (0.40 and 0.31 mM/s with NFA, 0.37 mM/s with H2DIDS). Gadolinium (20 ìM) had no effect on the chloride transport rate. In conclusion, the NCL-SG3 cells retain some of the aspects of human sweat gland epithelium, such as the ability to form cell-cell contacts. The CFTR protein is neither functional nor expressed in cultured NCL-SG3 sweat gland cells. Ca(2+)-activated chloride conductance is confirmed and the putative Ca(2+)-activated chloride channel (CaCC) is further characterized in term of its pharmacological sensitivity. The NCL-SG3 sweat gland cell line can be used to investigate the characteristics of the CaCC and to identify the channel.

Discovery of α-Aminoazaheterocycle-Methylglyoxal Adducts as a New Class of High-Affinity Inhibitors of Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator Chloride Channels

The cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) represents the main Cl(-) channel in the apical membrane of epithelial cells for cAMP-dependent Cl(-) secretion. Here we report on the synthesis and screening of a small library of nontoxic alpha-aminoazaheterocycle-methylglyoxal adducts, inhibitors of wild-type (WT) CFTR and G551D-, G1349D-, and F508del-CFTR Cl(-) channels. In whole-cell patch-clamp experiments of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells expressing WT-CFTR, we recorded rapid and reversible inhibition of forskolin-activated CFTR currents in the presence of the adducts 5a and 8a,b at 10 pM concentrations. Using iodide efflux experiments, we compared concentration-dependent inhibition of CFTR with glibenclamide (IC(50) = 14.7 microM), 3-[(3-trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-5-[(4-carboxyphenyl-)methylene]-2-thioxo-4-thiazolidinone (CFTR(inh)-172) (IC(50) = 1.2 microM), and alpha-aminoazaheterocycle-methylglyoxal adducts and identified compounds 5a (IC(50) = 71 pM), 8a,b (IC(50) = 2.5 nM), and 7a,b (IC(50) = 3.4 nM) as the most potent inhibitors of WT-CFTR channels. Similar ranges of inhibition were also found when these compounds were evaluated on CFTR channels with the cystic fibrosis mutations F508del (in temperature-corrected human airway epithelial F508del/F508del CF15 cells)-, G551D-, and G1349D-CFTR (expressed in CHO and COS-7 cells). No effect of compound 5a was detected on the volume-regulated or calcium-regulated iodide efflux. Picomolar inhibition of WT-CFTR with adduct 5a was also found using a 6-methoxy-N-(3-sulfopropyl)-quinolinium fluorescent probe applied to the human tracheobronchial epithelial cell line 16HBE14o-. Finally, we found comparable inhibition by 5a or by CFTR(inh)-172 of forskolin-dependent short-circuit currents in mouse colon. To the best of our knowledge, these new nontoxic alpha-aminoazaheterocycle-methylglyoxal adducts represent the most potent compounds reported to inhibit CFTR chloride channels.

CFTR-dependent Cl- secretion in Xenopus laevis lung epithelium

In our present study we used preparations from Xenopus laevis lungs to perform electrophysiological Ussing chamber measurements, unidirectional flux measurements, and employed molecular approaches to elucidate the presence and function of a cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) homolog in this tissue. Application of different CFTR blockers (NPPB (5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino)benzoic acid), niflumic acid (NFA), glibenclamide, lonidamine, CFTR(inh)-172) to the apical side of the tissues was able to significantly decrease the measured short circuit current (I(SC)) indicating a Cl(-) secretion due to luminal located CFTR channels. This was further supported by a net (36)Cl(-) secretion determined by radioactive tracer flux experiments. Further, Xenopus pulmonary epithelia responded to apical chlorzoxazone exposure - a CFTR activator - and this activated current was inhibited by CFTR(inh)-172. We performed reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) and Western blot analysis and with both approaches we found characteristic signals indicating the presence of a CFTR homolog in Xenopus lung. In addition, we were able to detect CFTR in apical membranes of Xenopus lung slices with immunohistological techniques. We conclude that Xenopus lung epithelium exhibits functional CFTR channels and that this tissue represents a valuable model for the investigation of ion transport properties in pulmonary epithelia.