Identification of SPLUNC1's ENaC-inhibitory domain yields novel strategies to treat sodium hyperabsorption in cystic fibrosis airways.
Carey A Hobbs, Maxime G Blanchard, Stephan Kellenberger, Sompop Bencharit, Rui Cao, Mehmet Kesimer, William G Walton, Matthew R Redinbo, M Jackson Stutts, Robert Tarran
Author Information
Carey A Hobbs: Cystic Fibrosis/Pulmonary Research and Treatment Center, Department of Prosthodontics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, 7125 Thurston Bowles Bldg., Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7248, USA.
The epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) is responsible for Na+ and fluid absorption across colon, kidney, and airway epithelia. We have previously identified SPLUNC1 as an autocrine inhibitor of ENaC. We have now located the ENaC inhibitory domain of SPLUNC1 to SPLUNC1's N terminus, and a peptide corresponding to this domain, G22-A39, inhibited ENaC activity to a similar degree as full-length SPLUNC1 (∼2.5 fold). However, G22-A39 had no effect on the structurally related acid-sensing ion channels, indicating specificity for ENaC. G22-A39 preferentially bound to the β-ENaC subunit in a glycosylation-dependent manner. ENaC hyperactivity is contributory to cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease. Addition of G22-A39 to CF human bronchial epithelial cultures (HBECs) resulted in an increase in airway surface liquid height from 4.2±0.6 to 7.9±0.6 μm, comparable to heights seen in normal HBECs, even in the presence of neutrophil elastase. Our data also indicate that the ENaC inhibitory domain of SPLUNC1 may be cleaved away from the main molecule by neutrophil elastase, which suggests that it may still be active during inflammation or neutrophilia. Furthermore, the robust inhibition of ENaC by the G22-A39 peptide suggests that this peptide may be suitable for treating CF lung disease.
References
Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2008 Jan;294(1):H379-85
[PMID: 17993595]
J Biol Chem. 2010 Nov 5;285(45):35216-23
[PMID: 20817728]
Int J Biochem Cell Biol. 2008;40(6-7):1238-45
[PMID: 18395488]
