title: The role of bestrophin in airway epithelial ion transport.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to identify Cl- channels in the basolateral membrane of airway epithelial cells at the molecular level. We have focused on a new family of Cl- channels, bestrophins, which have previously been identified in retinal pigment epithelium. RT-PCR, Western blot and confocal microscopy studies revealed the presence of bestrophin in airway epithelial cells. Decreasing bestrophin expression using siRNA resulted in diminished 36Cl- flux. These studies also showed that bestrophin regulation is similar to that of native basolateral Cl- channels. The data indicate that the presence of a functional bestrophin may contribute to the basolateral cell conductance in airway epithelial cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University of Alberta, 7-46 Med. Sci. Bldg. Edmonton, Alta., Canada T6G 2H7.
authors.forename: Valentin
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Duta
authors.forename: Artur J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Szkotak
authors.forename: Drew
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nahirney
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Duszyk
mesh_terms: D000075002:Bestrophins; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002460:Cell Line; D018118:Chloride Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D002712:Chlorides / Q000378:metabolism; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D006152:Cyclic GMP; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017136:Ion Transport; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D034622:RNA Interference; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000378:metabolism; D011868:Radioisotopes; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: C113133:BEST1 protein, human; D000075002:Bestrophins; D018118:Chloride Channels; D002712:Chlorides; D005136:Eye Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D011868:Radioisotopes; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D006152:Cyclic GMP