TMEM16A chloride channel does not drive mucus production.

ABSTRACT: Airway mucus obstruction is the main cause of morbidity in cystic fibrosis, a disease caused by mutations in the CFTR Cl^- channel. Activation of non-CFTR Cl^- channels such as TMEM16A can likely compensate for defective CFTR. However, TMEM16A was recently described as a key driver in mucus production/secretion. Here, we have examined whether indeed there is a causal relationship between TMEM16A and MUC5AC production, the main component of respiratory mucus. Our data show that TMEM16A and MUC5AC are inversely correlated during differentiation of human airway cells. Furthermore, we show for the first time that the IL-4-induced TMEM16A up-regulation is proliferation-dependent, which is supported by the correlation found between TMEM16A and Ki-67 proliferation marker durin

SUBMITTER: Simoes FB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6859295 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature