Altered biochemical regulation of secretion in cystic fibrosis epithelial cells

Actions of adenosine A1 and A2 receptor antagonists on CFTR antibody-inhibited beta-adrenergic mucin secretion response

1. The cystic fibrosis gene protein, the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) acts as a chloride channel and is a key regulator of mucin secretion. The mechanism by which 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX) corrects the defect in CFTR mediated beta-adrenergic stimulation of mucin secretion has not been determined. The present study has investigated the actions of adenosine A1 and A2 receptor antagonists to determine whether ability to stimulate mucin secretion correlates with correction of CFTR antibody inhibited beta-adrenergic response and whether excessive cyclic AMP rise is required. 2. CFTR antibodies were introduced into living rat submandibular acini by hypotonic swelling. Following recovery, mucin secretion in response to isoproterenol was measured. 3. The adenosine A1 receptor antagonist, 8 cyclopentyltheophylline (CPT) was a less potent stimulator of mucin secretion than was the A2 receptor antagonist dimethylpropargylxanthine (DMPX). A concentration of CPT close to the Ki for A1 receptor antagonism (10 nM) did not stimulate mucin secretion. 4. DMPX, although a potent stimulator of mucin secretion, did not correct CFTR antibody inhibited mucin secretion. 5. CPT corrected defective CFTR antibody inhibited mucin secretion at a high (1 mM) concentration, suggesting a mechanism other than adenosine receptor antagonism. 6. DMPX potentiated the isoproterenol induced cyclic AMP rise, whereas CPT did not. 7. Correction of the defective CFTR mucin secretion response did not correlate with ability to stimulate mucin secretion and did not require potentiation of beta-adrenergic induced increases in cyclic AMP. This affords real promise for the development of a selective drug treatment for cystic fibrosis.

CPX, a selective A1-adenosine-receptor antagonist, regulates intracellular pH in cystic fibrosis cells

The selective A1-adenosine-receptor antagonist, 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine (CPX), has been reported to activate Cl- efflux from cystic fibrosis cells, such as pancreatic CFPAC-1 and lung IB3 cells bearing the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator(delta F508) mutation, but has little effect on the same process in cells repaired by transfection with wild-type cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (O. Eidelman, C. Guay-Broder, P. J. M. van Galen, K. A. Jacobson, C. Fox, R. J. Turner, Z. I. Cabantchik, and H. B. Pollard. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89: 5562-5566, 1992). We report here that CPX downregulates Na+/H+ exchange activity in CFPAC-1 cells but has a much smaller effect on cells repaired with the wild-type gene. CPX also mildly decreases resting intracellular pH. In CFPAC-1 cells, this downregulation is dependent on the presence of adenosine, since pretreatment of the cells with adenosine deaminase blocks the CPX effect. We also show that, by contrast, CPX action on these cells does not lead to alterations in intracellular free Ca2+ concentration. We conclude that CPX affects pH regulation in CFPAC-1 cells, probably by antagonizing the tonic action of endogenous adenosine.