A cystic fibrosis respiratory epithelial cell chronically treated by miglustat acquires a non-cystic fibrosis-like phenotype

Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 2009 Aug;41(2):217-25. doi: 10.1165/rcmb.2008-0285OC. Epub 2009 Jan 8.

Abstract

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a fatal, autosomal and recessive genetic disease that is mainly due to inactivating mutations in the chloride channel CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). Sodium hyperabsorption by the airways, profound lung inflammation, and dysregulation of calcium homeostasis, are presumably causally related to loss of CFTR-dependent chloride function in patients with CF. Miglustat (N-butyldeoxynojirimycin, Zavesca), an inhibitor of the alpha-1,2 glucosidase, has been proposed for clinical use in CF because of its effect as a corrector of the defective trafficking of F508del-CFTR. In the present study, we show that daily treatment for 2 months with low concentrations of miglustat on the human CF nasal epithelial cell line, JME/CF15 (F508del/F508del-CFTR), results in progressive, stable, reversible, and sustained correction of F508del-CFTR trafficking, down-regulation of sodium hyperabsorption, and regulation of the calcium homeostasis. In conclusion, we provide here the first evidence that a respiratory CF cell can acquire a non-CF-like phenotype when chronically treated with low concentrations of a pharmacological drug.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 1-Deoxynojirimycin / analogs & derivatives*
  • 1-Deoxynojirimycin / pharmacology
  • 1-Deoxynojirimycin / therapeutic use
  • Animals
  • Calcium / metabolism
  • Cell Line
  • Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator / genetics
  • Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator / metabolism
  • Cystic Fibrosis* / drug therapy
  • Cystic Fibrosis* / physiopathology
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Epithelial Cells / cytology
  • Epithelial Cells / drug effects*
  • Epithelial Sodium Channels / genetics
  • Epithelial Sodium Channels / metabolism
  • Homeostasis
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Patch-Clamp Techniques
  • Phenotype
  • Respiratory Mucosa / cytology*

Substances

  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Epithelial Sodium Channels
  • Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator
  • 1-Deoxynojirimycin
  • miglustat
  • Calcium