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The effect of N ‐acetylcysteine on chloride efflux from airway epithelial cells
Author(s) -
Varelogianni Georgia,
Oliynyk Igor,
Roomans Godfried M.,
Johannesson Marie
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
cell biology international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.932
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1095-8355
pISSN - 1065-6995
DOI - 10.1042/cbi20090007
Subject(s) - efflux , acetylcysteine , mucus , chemistry , cystic fibrosis , intracellular , western blot , microbiology and biotechnology , glutathione , respiratory epithelium , epithelium , antioxidant , biochemistry , biology , medicine , pathology , enzyme , ecology , gene
Defective chloride transport in epithelial cells increases mucus viscosity and leads to recurrent infections with high oxidative stress in patients with CF (cystic fibrosis). NAC ( N ‐acetylcysteine) is a well known mucolytic and antioxidant drug, and an indirect precursor of glutathione. Since GSNO ( S ‐nitrosoglutathione) previously has been shown to be able to promote Cl − efflux from CF airway epithelial cells, it was investigated whether NAC also could stimulate Cl − efflux from CF and non‐CF epithelial cells and through which mechanisms. CFBE (CF bronchial epithelial cells) and normal bronchial epithelial cells (16HBE) were treated with 1 mM, 5 mM, 10 mM or 15 mM NAC for 4 h at 37°C. The effect of NAC on Cl − transport was measured by Cl − efflux measurements and by X‐ray microanalysis. Cl − efflux from CFBE cells was stimulated by NAC in a dose‐dependent manner, with 10 mM NAC causing a significant increase in Cl − efflux with nearly 80% in CFBE cells. The intracellular Cl − concentration in CFBE cells was significantly decreased up to 60% after 4 h treatment with 10 mM NAC. Moreover immunocytochemistry and Western blot experiments revealed expression of CFTR channel on CFBE cells after treatment with 10 mM NAC. The stimulation of Cl − efflux by NAC in CF airway epithelial cells may improve hydration of the mucus and thereby be beneficial for CF patients.

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