The international journal of biochemistry & cell biology
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Int. J. Biochem. Cell Biol. · Sep 2014
Comparative StudyEndothelin-1 driven proliferation of pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells is c-fos dependent.
Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is characterized by enhanced pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell (PASMC) proliferation leading to vascular remodeling. Although, multiple factors have been associated with pathogenesis of PH the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Here, we hypothesize that already very short exposure to hypoxia may activate molecular cascades leading to vascular remodeling. ⋯ Silencing of c-fos with siRNA abrogated the ET-1-induced proliferation of PASMCs. Expression and immunohistochemical analyses revealed higher levels of total and phosphorylated c-fos and c-jun in the vessel wall of lung samples of human idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension patents, hypoxia-exposed mice and monocrotaline-treated rats as compared to control subjects. These findings shed the light on the involvement of c-fos/c-jun in the proliferative response of PASMCs to ET-1 indicating that already very short hypoxia exposure leads to the regulation of mediators involved in vascular remodeling underlying PH.
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Int. J. Biochem. Cell Biol. · Jul 2014
ReviewThe TMEM16A chloride channel as an alternative therapeutic target in cystic fibrosis.
Cystic fibrosis (CF), a multiorgan genetic disease, is caused by loss of function of CFTR, a cAMP-regulated anion channel. In CF airway epithelia, defective Cl(-) and bicarbonate secretion impairs mucociliary clearance and other innate defense mechanisms, favoring the colonization of the lungs by highly virulent bacteria. The airway epithelium expresses TMEM16A, a second type of Cl(-) channel that is activated by cytosolic Ca(2+). ⋯ Activation of TMEM16A with pharmacological agents could circumvent the primary defect in CF. This strategy needs to be carefully designed and tested to avoid possible undesired effects due to the expression of TMEM16A in other cell types such as bronchial smooth muscle cells. This article is part of a Directed Issue entitled: Cystic Fibrosis: From o-mics to cell biology, physiology, and therapeutic advances.
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Int. J. Biochem. Cell Biol. · Jul 2014
ReviewUnderstanding how cystic fibrosis mutations disrupt CFTR function: from single molecules to animal models.
Defective epithelial ion transport is the hallmark of the life-limiting genetic disease cystic fibrosis (CF). This abnormality is caused by mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), the ATP-binding cassette transporter that functions as a ligand-gated anion channel. Since the identification of the CFTR gene, almost 2000 disease-causing mutations associated with a spectrum of clinical phenotypes have been reported, but the majority remain poorly characterised. ⋯ Here, we review selectively progress to understand how CF mutations disrupt CFTR processing, stability and function. We explore CFTR structure and function to explain the molecular mechanisms of CFTR dysfunction and highlight new knowledge of disease pathophysiology emerging from large animal models of CF. Understanding CFTR dysfunction is crucial to the development of transformational therapies for CF patients.
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Int. J. Biochem. Cell Biol. · Jul 2014
ReviewGenetics of cystic fibrosis: CFTR mutation classifications toward genotype-based CF therapies.
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive disease caused by mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene, which encodes an epithelial anion channel. Since the identification of the disease in 1938 and up until 2012, CF patients have been treated exclusively with medications aimed at bettering their respiratory, digestive, inflammatory and infectious symptoms. The identification of the CFTR gene in 1989 gave hopes of rapidly finding a cure for the disease, for which over 1950 mutations have been identified. ⋯ This review presents the current CFTR mutation classifications according to their clinical consequences and to their effect on the structure and function of the CFTR channel. How these classifications are essential in the establishment of mutation-targeted therapeutic strategies is then discussed. The future of CFTR-targeted treatment lies in combinatory therapies that will enable CF patients to receive a customized treatment.
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Int. J. Biochem. Cell Biol. · Jul 2014
ReviewMolecular modelling approaches for cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator studies.
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is one of the most common genetic disorders, caused by loss of function mutations in the gene encoding the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein. CFTR is a member of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters superfamily and functions as an ATP-gated anion channel. This review summarises the vast majority of the efforts which utilised molecular modelling approaches to gain insight into the various aspects of CFTR protein, related to its structure, dynamic properties, function and interactions with other protein partners, or drug-like compounds, with emphasis to its relation to CF disease.