Background: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a recessive disorder caused by mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. We previously described a first-in-class CFTR modulator that functions as an amplifier to selectively increase CFTR expression and function. The amplifier mechanism is distinct from and complementary to corrector and potentiator classes of CFTR modulators.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To investigate the effects of a vitamin D3 analogue (BXL628) in a model of chronic cystitis, as calcitriol analogues might be an interesting new therapeutic option for interstitial cystitis, for although the cause of the disease remains unclear, the increase in mast cells in the mucosa and detrusor muscle are significant.
Materials And Methods: We devised a mouse model of allergen-induced allergic cystitis that is associated with the up-regulation of genes for interleukin-13, FcepsilonRIalpha and mast cells-derived proteases, a massive inflammatory reaction in the bladder tissue, and augmented levels of mast cell-derived protease 1 (MMCP1) detected in mouse sera.
Results: Oral administration of BXL628 significantly reduced the expression of interleukin-13, FcepsilonRIalpha and MMCP1 in the bladder.
Members of the new heterodimeric amino acid transporter family are composed of two subunits, a catalytic multitransmembrane spanning protein (light chain) and a type II glycoprotein (heavy chain). These transporters function as exchangers and thereby extend the transmembrane amino acid transport selectivity to specific amino acids. The heavy chain rBAT associates with the light chain b degrees (,+)AT to form a cystine and cationic amino acid transporter.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe Na(+)-retaining hormone aldosterone increases the cell-surface expression of the luminal epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) and the basolateral Na(+) pump (Na,K-ATPase) in aldosterone-sensitive distal nephron cells in a coordinated fashion. To address the question of whether aldosterone-induced serum and glucocorticoid-regulated kinase-1 (SGK1) might be involved in mediating this regulation of Na,K-ATPase subcellular localization, similar to that of the epithelial Na(+) channel (ENaC), we co-expressed the Na,K-ATPase (rat alpha 1- and Xenopus laevis beta 1-subunits) and Xenopus SGK1 in Xenopus oocytes. Measurements of the Na(+) pump current showed that wild-type SGK1 increases the function of exogenous Na,K-ATPase at the surface of Xenopus oocytes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFShort-term aldosterone coordinately regulates the cell-surface expression of luminal epithelial sodium channels (ENaC) and of basolateral Na(+) pumps (Na(+), K(+)-ATPase alpha1-beta1) in aldosterone-sensitive distal nephron (ASDN) cells. To address the question of whether the subcellular localization of the Na(+), K(+)-ATPase and its regulation by aldosterone depend on subunit isoform-specific structures, we expressed the cardiotonic steroid-sensitive human alpha isoforms 1-3 by retroviral transduction in mouse collecting duct mpkCCD(c14) cells. Each of the three exogenous human isoforms could be detected by Western blotting.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAldosterone controls extracellular volume and blood pressure by regulating Na(+) reabsorption across epithelial cells of the aldosterone-sensitive distal nephron (ASDN). This effect is mediated by a coordinate action on the luminal channel ENaC (generally rate limiting) and the basolateral Na,K-ATPase. Long-term effects of aldosterone (starting within 3 to 6 hours and increasing over days) are mediated by the direct and indirect induction of stable elements of the Na(+) transport machinery (e.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAldosterone increases within 30 min renal Na+reabsorption and K+secretion by a mechanism that is triggered at the level of gene transcription. Thus, gene products that are rapidly up- or down-regulated transmit this effect to the transport machinery within the distal nephron target cells. One such rapidly up-regulated gene product is a structural element of the transport machinery, namely the a subunit of ENaC.
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