In vivo analysis of fluid transport in cystic fibrosis airway epithelia of bronchial xenografts

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Abstract
An in vivo human bronchial xenograft model system was used to simultaneously analyze electrolyte and fluid transport defects in fully differentiated human cystic fibrosis (CF) and non-CF proximal airways. CF airways demonstrated three discernible defects when compared with non-CF, including 1) a lack of adenosine 3',5'-cylic monophosphate (cAMP)-inducible Cl- secretion, 2) a fourfold higher basal fluid absorption rate, and 3) an altered regulation of fluid absorption in response to amiloride-stimulated changes in Na+ transport. A unique finding in this study demonstrated that treatment of epithelia with amiloride led to a greater than threefold decrease in the rate of fluid absorption in CF tissues as contrasted to a greater than threefold increase in the rate of fluid absorption in non-CF tissues. The removal of apical Na+ from amiloride-treated non-CF xenografts was capable of ablating this amiloride-induced increase in fluid absorption. In light of the recent interactions demonstrated between CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) and the rat epithelial, amiloride-sensitive Na+ channel, these findings implicate additional complexities between the Na+ conductance pathways and fluid transport in normal and CF proximal airways. Such findings suggest that CFTR may also regulate amiloride-insensitive Na+ channels.