title: Effect of inflammatory stimuli on airway ion transport.
abstract: The airway epithelium controls the chemical and physical properties of airway surface fluid and consequently mucociliary clearance. The treatment for 24-48 hours of human bronchial epithelial cells with interferon-gamma or interleukin-4 leads to marked changes in transepithelial ion transport properties. Both cytokines downregulate the activity of the epithelial Na+ channel and, at the same time, upregulate Ca2+-dependent Cl- secretion. Interleukin-4 also increases the expression and function of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator Cl- channel. These results suggest that some inflammatory stimuli may change the balance between fluid absorption and secretion to favor hydration of the airway surface and consequently mucus clearance.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Largo Gerolamo Gaslini, 5, 16148 Genoa, Italy. galietta@unige.it
authors.forename: Luis J V
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Galietta
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Folli
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Caci
authors.forename: Nicoletta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pedemonte
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Taddei
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ravazzolo
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Zegarra-Moran
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001991:Bronchitis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D017136:Ion Transport / Q000502:physiology*; D009093:Mucus / Q000378:metabolism; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology