Amiloride‐insensitive nasal potential difference varies with the menstrual cycle in cystic fibrosis
NB Sweezey, D Smith, M Corey, L Ellis… - Pediatric …, 2007 - Wiley Online Library
Pediatric pulmonology, 2007•Wiley Online Library
Rationale There is no adequate explanation for gender‐based differences in rates of
mortality and of deterioration in pulmonary function in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. One
potential explanation is that gender hormones (sex steroids) may modulate the severity of
CF lung disease, the principal cause of mortality in CF, by altering respiratory transepithelial
ion transport. Objective To determine whether respiratory epithelial ion transport varied
during the menstrual cycle of CF females. Methods The nasal transepithelial electrical …
mortality and of deterioration in pulmonary function in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. One
potential explanation is that gender hormones (sex steroids) may modulate the severity of
CF lung disease, the principal cause of mortality in CF, by altering respiratory transepithelial
ion transport. Objective To determine whether respiratory epithelial ion transport varied
during the menstrual cycle of CF females. Methods The nasal transepithelial electrical …
Rationale
There is no adequate explanation for gender‐based differences in rates of mortality and of deterioration in pulmonary function in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. One potential explanation is that gender hormones (sex steroids) may modulate the severity of CF lung disease, the principal cause of mortality in CF, by altering respiratory transepithelial ion transport.
Objective
To determine whether respiratory epithelial ion transport varied during the menstrual cycle of CF females.
Methods
The nasal transepithelial electrical potential difference (NPD) was determined as a measure of ion transport across human respiratory epithelium, coincident with measurements of endogenous serum hormone levels in the luteal and follicular phases of the menstrual cycle in CF females aged 16–22 years.
Results
The component of the NPD that is insensitive to the Na+ transport blocker amiloride, but not the amiloride‐sensitive component, changed in association with endogenous, menstrual cycle‐induced changes in serum levels of progesterone and estrogen (P = 0.02, n = 7, paired t‐test). Measurements using Cl− free perfusates suggested that the changes are not a result of Cl− conductance.
Conclusions
Our results suggest that in CF respiratory epithelium amiloride‐insensitive, but not amiloride‐sensitive, ion transport is altered by female gender hormones in vivo. We speculate that amiloride‐insensitive ion transport may contribute to the regulation of human airway surface fluid. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2007; 42:519–524. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
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