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. 2011 Sep 27;2:52. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2011.00052

Stimulation of Airway and Intestinal Mucosal Secretion by Natural Coumarin CFTR Activators

Hong Yang 1,*, Li-Na Xu 2, Yu-jie Sui 2, Xin Liu 3, Cheng-yan He 3, Rou-yu Fang 2, Jia Liu 2, Feng Hao 2, Tong-Hui Ma 1,2,*
PMCID: PMC3180640  PMID: 21991256

Abstract

Mutations of cystic fibrosis (CF) transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) cause lethal hereditary disease CF that involves extensive destruction and dysfunction of serous epithelium. Possible pharmacological therapy includes correction of defective intracellular processing and abnormal channel gating. In a previous study, we identified five natural coumarin potentiators of ΔF508-CFTR including osthole, imperatorin, isopsoralen, praeruptorin A, and scoparone. The present study was designed to determine the activity of these coumarine compounds on CFTR activity in animal tissues as a primary evaluation of their therapeutic potential. In the present study, we analyzed the affinity of these coumarin potentiators in activating wild-type CFTR and found that they are all potent activators. Osthole showed the highest affinity with Kd values <50 nmol/L as determined by Ussing chamber short-circuit current assay. Stimulation of rat colonic mucosal secretion by osthole was tested by the Ussing chamber short-circuit current assay. Osthole reached maximal activation of colonic Cl− secretion at 5 μmol/L. Stimulation of mouse tracheal mucosal secretion was analyzed by optical measurement of single gland secretion. Fluid secretion rate of tracheal single submucosal gland stimulated by osthole at 10 μmol/L was three-fold more rapid than that in negative control. In both cases the stimulated secretions were fully abolished by CFTRinh-172. In conclusion, the effective stimulation of Cl– and fluid secretion in colonic and tracheal mucosa by osthole suggested the therapeutic potential of natural coumarin compounds for the treatment of CF and other CFTR-related diseases.

Keywords: CFTR, coumarins, activator, fluid secretion, mucosa, colon, airway

Introduction

Cystic fibrosis (CF) transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is a multidomain glycoprotein, belongs to the adenine nucleotide-binding cassette (ABC) transporter family (Kerem et al., 1989), and is the only anion channel of ABC superfamily (He et al., 2008). CFTR is extensively expressed on the luminal surface of serous epithelial cells most prominently in the intestines, airways, pancreas, bile ducts, epididymis, and conjunctiva (Kunzelmann, 1999; Hanrahan and Wioland, 2004; Riordan, 2008). It has been confirmed that CFTR play a vital role in the absorption and secretion of electrolytes and fluid in submucosal glands (Kunzelmann, 1999; Thiagarajah and Verkman, 2003; Riordan, 2008). In some epithelia such as in colon, CFTR may account for the entire apical chloride conductance (Greger, 2000). Besides as a cAMP-dependent chloride channel, CFTR also regulates activities of other ion channels, such as the epithelial Na+ channel (ENaC; Berdiev et al., 2009), outwardly rectifying Cl− channel (ORCC; Jovov et al., 1995; Hryciw and Guggino, 2000), KvLQT1 (Boucherot et al., 2001), ROMK (Ho, 1998), and water channel (Castro-Parodi et al., 2009). In addition, CFTR may play roles in establishing the low pH in the biosynthetic compartments of the trans-Golgi network and in endosomes (Machen et al., 2001).

Altered function of CFTR is related to many clinical symptoms. For example, mutations in CFTR that alters its biogenesis and/or intrinsic transport function cause the hereditary lethal disease CF (Marcet and Boeynaems, 2006). On the other hand, improper activation of CFTR is involved in diseases such as secretary diarrhea (Thiagarajah and Verkman, 2003) and polycystic kidney disease (PKD; Li and Sheppard, 2009). Altered CFTR function also accounts for curtain other disorders, such as constipation (Pratha et al., 2000), keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS; Levin and Verkman, 2005), and idiopathic chronic pancreatitis (ICP; Cohn et al., 1998). Therefore, CFTR became a potential drug target for these diseases.

In a previous study, we identified a family of natural coumarin compounds that can potentiate Cl– transport through ΔF508-CFTR by screening a collection of 386 natural single compounds from Chinese medicinal herbs (Xu et al., 2008). However, the in vivo effects of these coumarin compounds have not been determined. In the present study, we first characterized the activity of these coumarin ΔF508-CFTR potentiators on wild-type CFTR (wt-CFTR) and then examined their effect on Cl– secretion in freshly isolated rodent colonic and tracheal mucosa. The results indicated effective stimulation of Cl– secretion in live tissues and therefore support the therapeutic potential of coumarin CFTR potentiators for CFTR-related diseases including CF, constipation, and ICP.

Materials and Methods

Coumarins

Coumarins were purchased from the National Institute for the Control of Pharmaceutical and Biological Products in China (purity >99%). The purities of compounds were confirmed by HPLC/MS analysis. Compounds were dissolved in DMSO to make a 20-mmol/L stock solution. In all tests, Cells were exposed to a final concentration of DMSO of <1%, to avoid DMSO effects on the cell-based assay.

Cell lines

Halide-sensitive yellow fluorescent protein mutant (EYFP-H148Q) and human wt-CFTR cotransfected fischer rat thyroid (FRT) epithelium were generated and cultured as references (Galietta et al., 2001; Yang et al., 2003). The cells were prepared both for fluorescence functional and electrophysiological analyses. For fluorescence assay, FRT cells were plated into a special black-walled, clear-bottomed 96-well tissue culture plate (Costar, Corning, NY, USA), and incubated at 37°C for 24 h before measurement of compound activity. For the electrophysiological Ussing chamber assay, cells were cultured on the porous supports Snapwell inserts (Costar, Corning, NY, USA) at 37°C for 7 days before measurements.

Fluorescence assay of CFTR channel function

Fischer rat thyroid cells grown in 96-well tissue culture plates were washed three times with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), then incubated with 100 nmol/L forskolin without (control) or with coumarin in a final volume of 40 μl for 10 min. The fluorescence of each well was recorded for 14 s (five points per second) continuously in a fluorescence plate reader (FLUOstar Optima; BMG Laboratory Technologies, Offenburg, Germany) with 2 s before and 12 s after injection of 120 μl of and I−-containing solution (PBS with 137 mM Cl− replaced by equal concentration of I−). I− influx rates (d[I−]/dt at t = 0) were computed from fluorescence time course data by single exponential regression, as described previously (Ma et al., 2002).

Electrophysiology

Transepithelial Cl− current were measured on both CFTR transfected FRT cells and rat mucosa. FRT cells were cultured on Snapwell inserts, grown at an air–liquid interface, and placed in a Ussing chamber system (Vertical Diffusion Chamber, Physiological Instruments, San Diego, CA, USA). Measurements were performed in the presence of a transepithelial Cl− gradient, in which the basolateral side solution contained (in mmol/L): 130 NaCl, 2.7 KCl, 1.5 KH2PO4, 1 CaCl2, 0.5 MgCl2, 10 Na–HEPES, pH 7.3, and 10 glucose; The apical side solution contained the same components except that 65 mmol/L NaCl was replaced by sodium gluconate and the concentration of CaCl2 was increased to 2 mmol/L. The basolateral membrane was permeabilized with 250 μg/ml amphotericin B (He et al., 2005).

For measurements of transepithelial Cl− current on rat colonic mucosa, rat colonic mucosa was obtained as described previously (He et al., 2005). Briefly, SD rats (weight about 200 g) were starved for 24 h prior. Segments of colon were excised after the rat was sacrificed with intravenous pentobarbital (100 mg/kg). The colon was immediately stripped of muscularis, mounted in Ussing chambers (area 1.03 cm2), and bathed in Krebs–Henseleit (KH) solution (in mmol/L: NaCl 117, KCl 4.7, MgCl2 1.2, KH2PO4 1.2, NaHCO3 24.8, CaCl2 2.5, glucose 11.1, pH 7.4). Short-circuit current was measured after inhibition of Na+ current by amiloride (10 μmol/L) and prostaglandin generation inhibitor of indomethacin (10 μmol/L), followed by stimulation by forskolin (20 μmol/L) and subsequent inhibitor addition (Ma et al., 2002). All in vivo studies including isolation of rat colonic mucosa and mouse trachea followed guidelines for animal experiments in Jilin University.

Measurements were performed at 37°C, and solutions were continuously bubbled with air. Short-Circuit current was recorded with a DVC-1000 voltage clamp (World Precision Instruments, Sarasota, FL, USA) via Ag/AgCl electrodes and 1 mol/L KCl agar bridges.

Measurement of individual submucosal gland fluid secretion

Freshly excised the most cranial part of mouse trachea was immediately mounted on a sponge. The system was soaked in KH solution and held in a perfusion chamber with the mucosal side up in a humidified 5% CO2/95% air atmosphere at 37°C during tests as described previously (Song and Verkman, 2001). After the mucosa was cleared with saline and dried by nitrogen stream, 200 μL saline saturated oil was added to the surface. In some experiments the tissues were incubated for 30 min in KH buffer containing 20 μmol/L CFTRinh-172. Gland fluid droplets were imaged and recorded by a reflected light microscopy (Olympus, Olympus Micro DP Controller) after stimulation with compounds. The rate of fluid secretion from individual submucosal gland was computed from fluid droplet diameter assuming semi-spherical droplet geometry as reference (Song and Verkman, 2001).

Statistical Analysis

Data are reported as means ± SE. Statistical significance of the effects was determined by using the OriginPro 8.0 software.

Results

Initial experiments were preformed to verify activation of wt-CFTR by five coumarin ΔF508-CFTR potentiators we identified previously (Xu et al., 2008). The five coumarins (structures shown in Figure 1A) stimulated wt-CFTR-mediated I− influx in a concentration-dependent way, with an affinity sequence from higher to lower as: osthole > scoparone > imperatorin > isopsoralen > praeruptorin A (Figure 1B). The potency and efficacy of osthole are much higher than the known CFTR potentiator genistein.

Figure 1.

Figure 1

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Functional analysis of natural coumarin compounds in FRT cells expressing wild-type CFTR. (A) Chemical structures of the active coumarins. (B) Concentration–response curves for the active coumarins. Assays were performed in the presence of 0.1 μmol/L forskolin. Genistein was used as a positive control. (mean ± SE, n = 4).

CFTR activation potencies of coumarins were further analyzed on the more reliable short-circuit current assay. Measurements were performed after the basolateral membrane of FRT cells were permeabilized with amphotericin B and in the presence of transepithelial Cl− gradient. As the representative curves shown in Figure 2A and summarized in Figure 2B, the three potent coumarin activators identified in the fluorescent assay stimulated transepithelial Cl− current in the presence of 0.1 μmol/L FSK. Noticeably, osthole exhibited very high affinity (with Kd < 50 nmol/L). The CFTR specific blocker CFTRinh-172 at 20 μmol/L completely blocked the activations. These data indicated that the coumarin compounds stimulated Cl− currents through CFTR.

Figure 2.

Figure 2

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Short-circuit current analysis of the natural coumarins in FRT cells expressing wild-type CFTR. (A) Representative tracings of wt-CFTR-mediated apical membrane Cl− currents are shown. Measurements were performed after the basolateral membrane of Fischer rat thyroid (FRT) cells had been permeabilized with 250 mg/mL amphotericin B and in the presence of a 60-mmol/L basolateral to apical transepithelial Cl− gradient. Where indicated, various concentrations of the compounds were added to the apical chamber solutions. (B) Dose–response analysis indicates that the natural coumarins stimulated Cl− currents in a concentration-dependent manner. (mean ± SE, n = 6).

Osthole was used to further evaluate the potential effects of coumarin compounds on CFTR-mediated Cl− secretion in live tissues. The first set of experiments was performed in strips of rat distal colonic mucosa by short-circuit current assays. Osthole was applied on mucosal (Figure 3A) and serosal (Figure 3B) sides separately. Maximal stimulations were obtained at osthole concentration of 5 μmol/L. CFTRinh-172 completely abolished the osthole-stimulated chloride secretion. Quantified effects of osthole on rat colonic mucosa Cl− secretion were shown in Figure 3C.

Figure 3.

Figure 3

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Stimulation of mucosal Cl− current of rat colon by osthole. Osthole-stimulated transepithelial Cl− current was measured after inhibition of Na+ current by amiloride (10 μmol/L) and prostaglandin production by indomethacin (10 μmol/L). Where indicated, osthole and CFTRinh-172 was added. Osthole was added to mucosal (A) and serosal (B) sides separately. (C) Summary of mucosal Cl− current stimulated by osthole. (mean ± SE, n = 6).

Another set of experiments was performed in freshly excised fragments of the cranial portion of mouse trachea. The effect of osthole on the rates of fluid secretion from airway submucosal glands was measured from the growth of individual fluid droplets visualized by low-magnification light microscopy. Gland fluid secretion was stimulated by addition of 10 μmol/L pilocarpine or 10 μmol/L osthole to the serosal bathing solution. Figure 4A shows a series of images of expanding fluid droplets secreted by single submucosal glands after stimulation by osthole, with pilocarpine as positive control. Figure 4B summarizes the fluid secretion rate of individual submucosal gland stimulated by the indicated maneuvers. Osthole increased fluid secretion rate by 3.34-fold compared to the saline control. The effect was largely abolished by CFTRinh-172.

Figure 4.

Figure 4

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Stimulation of submucosal glands fluid secretion of mouse trachea by osthole. (A) Bright field micrographs of expanding fluid droplets secreted from single submucosal glands. a, saline; b, osthole; c, osthole plus CFTRinh-172; d, pilocarpine; e, pilocarpine plus CFTRinh-172. (B) Linear volume increase of gland droplets (mean ± SE, n = 12) with time after stimulation.

Discussion

In a previous study, we identified a family of natural coumarin compounds (including osthole, scoparone, imperatorin, praeruptorin A, and isopsoralen) that can rescue defective ΔF508-CFTR chloride channel gating (Xu et al., 2008). The present study was designed to determine the activity of these coumarin compounds on CFTR activity in animal tissues as a primary evaluation of their therapeutic potential.

We first confirmed the activity of the five coumarin ΔF508-CFTR potentiators on wt-CFTR and identified osthole as a low nonamolar affinity activator (Kd < 50 nmol/L). To our knowledge, osthole may be the most potent natural CFTR activator identified so far. However, the affinity of osthole in potentiating ΔF508-CFTR (~10 μmol/L; Xu et al., 2008) is >200-fold lower than in activating wt-CFTR. The altered gating mechanism of ΔF508-CFTR may be further investigated using osthole as a probe.

The effect of coumarin compounds on CFTR-mediated fluid secretion in live tissues was demonstrated in two models. In the first model, osthole-stimulated significant Cl− secretion in freshly isolated rat colonic mucosa with maximal effect at 5 μmol/L in Ussing chamber short-circuit current assay. The effect is fully reversed by CFTRinh-172. In the second model, osthole at 10 μmol/L stimulated ~3-fold more rapid fluid secretion by tracheal single submucosal gland than that in the control. The stimulated secretions were also fully abolished by CFTRinh-172. These results clearly indicated that coumarin compound osthole can effectively stimulate CFTR Cl− transport and fluid secretion in live epithelial tissues and the effect is through activation of CFTR chloride channel.

The mechanisms of CFTR activation by coumarin compounds remain unclear. CFTR activation involves several indirect pathways and direct interactions (Hwang and Sheppard, 1999; Schultz et al., 1999). Because coumarins modulate many intracellular pathways (Wu et al., 2009), its activity in activating CFTR may involve both direct and indirect interactions with the CFTR protein. Our previous studies suggested that coumarin compounds may activate wild-type and ΔF508-CFTR chloride channel activity by a direct interaction with CFTR protein (Ma et al., 2002; Xu et al., 2008), but precise molecular mechanisms need to be fully characterized by systematic electrophysiological studies.

In conclusion, we have demonstrated for the first time that natural coumarin compound osthole can effectively stimulate CFTR-mediated Cl– secretion in colonic mucosa and fluid secretion in tracheal submucosal glands. The results suggested the therapeutic potential of natural coumarin compounds for the treatment of CF and other CFTR-related diseases.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Acknowledgments

We thank Qingyan Li and Lianhui Dou for their assistance in animal experiments. This work was supported by National Natural Science Fund (No. 30973577), Dalian Municipal Science and Technology Fund (2008E11SF162), and National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program, No. 2009CB521900).

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