title: Congenital tracheal malformation in cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator-deficient mice.
abstract: In cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, the major alteration in pulmonary function is due to peripheral airway obstruction. In the present study, we investigated the possibility that alterations in the extrathoracic airways, particularly in the trachea that expresses high levels of CFTR (CF transmembrane conductance regulator), may contribute to respiratory dysfunction. We performed morphological analyses of the trachea and airway functional studies in adult Cftr knockout (Cftr(-/-)) and F508del-CFTR mice and their controls. Macroscopic and histological examination of the trachea showed the presence of one to seven disrupted or incomplete cartilage rings in Cftr(-/-) mice (23/25) while only a few Cftr(+/+) mice (6/25) had one abnormal ring. Tracheal defects were mainly localized in the proximal trachea. In 14 Cftr(-/-) mice, frontal disruption of the first three to six rings below the cricoid cartilage were associated with upper tracheal constriction. Similar tracheal abnormalities were detected in adult F508del-CFTR and in newborn Cftr(-/-) and F508del-CFTR mice. Tracheal and ventilatory function analyses showed in Cftr(-/-) mice a decreased contractile response of the proximal trachea and a reduced breathing rate due to an increase in the inspiratory and expiratory times. In F508del-CFTR mice, the expiratory time was longer than in controls. Therefore, these structural and functional abnormalities detected in adult and newborn CF mouse models may represent congenital malformations related to CFTR dysfunction. These results raise important questions concerning the mechanisms governing tracheal development within the context of CFTR protein dysfunction and the implication of such abnormalities in the pathogenesis of airway disease in CF.
authors.affiliation: UPMC Université Paris 06, F-75005 Paris, France.
authors.forename: Elise
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bonvin
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Le Rouzic
authors.forename: Jean-François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Bernaudin
authors.forename: Charles-Henry
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Cottart
authors.forename: Clarisse
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vandebrouck
authors.forename: Antoine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Crié
authors.forename: Teresinha
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Leal
authors.forename: Annick
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Clement
authors.forename: Monique
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bonora
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019005:Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000502:physiology; D012119:Respiration; D014132:Trachea / Q000166:cytology / Q000473:pathology; D014133:Tracheal Diseases / Q000151:congenital* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D019005:Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator