Effect of inflammatory stimuli on airway ion transport.
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.
Galietta
Luis J V
LJ
Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Largo Gerolamo Gaslini, 5, 16148 Genoa, Italy. galietta@unige.it
Folli
Chiara
C
Caci
Emanuela
E
Pedemonte
Nicoletta
N
Taddei
Alessandro
A
Ravazzolo
Roberto
R
Zegarra-Moran
Olga
O
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