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Congenital tracheal malformation in cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator‐deficient mice
Author(s) -
Bonvin Elise,
Le Rouzic Philippe,
Bernaudin JeanFrançois,
Cottart CharlesHenry,
Vandebrouck Clarisse,
Crié Antoine,
Leal Teresinha,
Clement Annick,
Bonora Monique
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
the journal of physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.802
H-Index - 240
eISSN - 1469-7793
pISSN - 0022-3751
DOI - 10.1113/jphysiol.2008.150763
Subject(s) - cystic fibrosis , cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator , medicine , airway , knockout mouse , pathogenesis , context (archaeology) , pathology , anatomy , endocrinology , biology , anesthesia , receptor , paleontology
In cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, the major alteration in pulmonary function is due to peripheral airway obstruction. In the present study, we investigated the possibility that alterations in the extrathoracic airways, particularly in the trachea that expresses high levels of CFTR (CF transmembrane conductance regulator), may contribute to respiratory dysfunction. We performed morphological analyses of the trachea and airway functional studies in adult Cftr knockout ( Cftr −/− ) and F508del‐CFTR mice and their controls. Macroscopic and histological examination of the trachea showed the presence of one to seven disrupted or incomplete cartilage rings in Cftr −/− mice (23/25) while only a few Cftr +/+ mice (6/25) had one abnormal ring. Tracheal defects were mainly localized in the proximal trachea. In 14 Cftr −/− mice, frontal disruption of the first three to six rings below the cricoid cartilage were associated with upper tracheal constriction. Similar tracheal abnormalities were detected in adult F508del‐CFTR and in newborn Cftr −/− and F508del‐CFTR mice. Tracheal and ventilatory function analyses showed in Cftr −/− mice a decreased contractile response of the proximal trachea and a reduced breathing rate due to an increase in the inspiratory and expiratory times. In F508del‐CFTR mice, the expiratory time was longer than in controls. Therefore, these structural and functional abnormalities detected in adult and newborn CF mouse models may represent congenital malformations related to CFTR dysfunction. These results raise important questions concerning the mechanisms governing tracheal development within the context of CFTR protein dysfunction and the implication of such abnormalities in the pathogenesis of airway disease in CF.