title: Cryptdin-3 induces novel apical conductance(s) in Cl- secretory, including cystic fibrosis, epithelia.
abstract: Opening of anion-conductive pathways in apical membranes of secretory cells lining mucosal surfaces is a critical step in salt and water secretion and, thus, hydration of sites including airway and intestine. In intestine, Paneth cells are positioned at the base of the secretory gland (crypt) and release defensin peptide, in mice termed cryptdins, into the crypt lumen. Because at least some defensins have been shown to form anion-conductive channels in phospholipid bilayers, we tested whether these endogenous antimicrobial peptides could act as soluble inducers of channel-like activity when applied to apical membranes. To directly evaluate the possibility of cryptdin-3-mediated apical anion conductance (G(ap)), we have utilized amphotericin B to selectively permeabilize basolateral membranes of electrically tight monolayers of polarized human intestinal secretory epithelia (T84 cells), thus isolating the apical membrane for study. Cryptdin-3 induces G(ap) that is voltage independent (deltaG(ap) = 1.90 +/- 0.60 mS/cm2) and exhibits ion selectivity contrasting to that elicited by forskolin or thapsigargin (for cryptdin-3, Cl- = gluconate; for forskolin and thapsigargin, Cl- >> gluconate). We cannot exclude the possibility that the macroscopic current induced by cryptdin could be the sum of cation and Cl- currents. Cryptdin-3 induces a current in basolaterally permeabilized epithelial monolayers derived from airway cells harboring the deltaF508 mutation of cystic fibrosis (CF; deltaG(ap) = 0.80 +/- 0.06 mS/cm2), demonstrating that cryptdin-3 restores anion secretion in CF cells; this occurs independently of the CF transmembrane conductance regulator channel. These results support the idea that cryptdin-3 may associate with apical membranes of Cl--secreting epithelia and self-assemble into conducting channels capable of mediating a physiological response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA. dmerlin@emory.edu
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Merlin
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yue
authors.forename: W I
authors.initials: WI
authors.lastname: Lencer
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Selsted
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Madara
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018118:Chloride Channels / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis; D019005:Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator / Q000235:genetics; D023082:Defensins; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D011506:Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; C505032:CFTR protein, human; D018118:Chloride Channels; D023082:Defensins; D011506:Proteins; C107642:cryptdin 3; D019005:Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator