Effect of CFTR modulators Elexacaftor/Tezacaftor/Ivacaftor on lipid metabolism in human bronchial epithelial cells.

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a life-threatening hereditary disease resulting from mutations in the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR) gene that encodes a chloride channel essential for ion transport in epithelial cells. Mutations in CFTR, notably the prevalent F508del mutation, impair chloride transport, severely affecting the respiratory system and leading to recurrent infections. Recent therapeutic advancements include CFTR modulators such as ETI, a combination of two correctors (Elexacaftor and Tezacaftor) and a potentiator (Ivacaftor), that can improve CFTR function in patients with the F508del mutation.

Ganglioside GD2 Contributes to a Stem-Like Phenotype in Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma.

Background & Aims: GD2, a member of the ganglioside (GS) family (sialic acid-containing glycosphingolipids), is a potential biomarker of cancer stem cells (CSC) in several tumours. However, the possible role of GD2 and its biosynthetic enzyme, GD3 synthase (GD3S), in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) has not been explored.

Methods: The stem-like subset of two iCCA cell lines was enriched by sphere culture (SPH) and compared to monolayer parental cells (MON).

Lewy pathology formation in patient-derived GBA1 Parkinson's disease midbrain organoids.

Fibrillary aggregation of α-synuclein in Lewy body inclusions and nigrostriatal dopaminergic neuron degeneration define Parkinson's disease neuropathology. Mutations in GBA1, encoding glucocerebrosidase, are the most frequent genetic risk factor for Parkinson's disease. However, the lack of reliable experimental models able to reproduce key neuropathological signatures has hampered the clarification of the link between mutant glucocerebrosidase and Parkinson's disease pathology.

Assessing the Potential of -Butyl-l-deoxynojirimycin (l-NBDNJ) in Models of Cystic Fibrosis as a Promising Antibacterial Agent.

Over the past few years, l-iminosugars have revealed attractive pharmacological properties for managing rare diseases including Cystic Fibrosis (CF). The iminosugar -butyl-l-deoxynojirimycin (l-NBDNJ, -), prepared by a carbohydrate-based route, was herein evaluated for its anti-inflammatory and anti-infective potential in models of CF lung disease infection. A significant decrease in the bacterial load in the airways was observed in the murine model of chronic infection in the presence of l-NBDNJ, also accompanied by a modest reduction of inflammatory cells.

Tezacaftor is a direct inhibitor of sphingolipid delta-4 desaturase enzyme (DEGS).

Background: We recently demonstrated that 48 h exposure of primary human bronchial epithelial (hBE) cells, obtained from both CF (F508del homozygous) and non-CF subjects, to the triple drug combination Elexacaftor/Tezacaftor/Ivacaftor (ETI) results in a CFTR genotype-independent modulation of the de novo synthethic pathway of sphingolipids, with an accumulation of dihydroceramides (dHCer). Since dHCer are converted into ceramides (Cer) by the action of a delta-4 sphingolipid desaturase (DEGS) enzyme, we aimed to better understand this off-target effect of ETI (i.e.