R. Kuver et al., CONSTITUTIVE MUCIN SECRETION LINKED TO CFTR EXPRESSION, Biochemical and biophysical research communications, 203(3), 1994, pp. 1457-1462
Mucus plugging is a hallmark of cystic fibrosis, but the link between
the defective gene the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regul
ator, and the abnormal mucus phenotype is unclear. To demonstrate CFTR
involvement in mucin glycoprotein secretion in epithelial cells, a re
troviral vector was used to overexpress CFTR in gallbladder epithelial
cells, and constitutive mucin labeling and secretion were monitored.
Achievement of high-level vector expression was confirmed by transduct
ion with marker genes. Cells transduced with vectors carrying CFTR cDN
A showed 5-fold increased expression of CFTR by Western blotting. Muci
n labeling and secretion were 4-fold elevated in transduced cells. The
se results suggest constitutive mucin synthesis and secretion in gallb
ladder epithelial cells are regulated by CFTR. (C) 1994 Academic Press
, Inc.