Suppression of CFTR-mediated Cl secretion of airway epithelium in vitamin C-deficient mice.

Hyperoxic ventilation induces detrimental effects on the respiratory system, and ambient oxygen may be harmful unless compensated by physiological anti-oxidants, such as vitamin C. Here we investigate the changes in electrolyte transport of airway epithelium in mice exposed to normobaric hyperoxia and in gulonolacton oxidase knock-out (gulo[-/-]) mice without vitamin C (Vit-C) supplementation. Short-circuit current (l(sc)) of tracheal epithelium was measured using Ussing chamber technique. After confirming amiloride-sensitive Na+ absorption (Delta l(sc,amil)), cAMP-dependent Cl- secretion (Delta l(sc,Forsk)) was induced by forskolin. To evaluate Ca2+-dependent Cl- secretion, ATP was applied to the luminal side (Delta l(sc),(ATP)). In mice exposed to 98% PO2 for 36 hr, Delta l(sc,forsk) decreased, Delta l(sc,amil) and Delta l(sc,ATP) was not affected. In gulo(-/-) mice, both Delta l(sc,forsk) and Delta l(sc,ATP) decreased from three weeks after Vit-C deprivation, while both were unchanged with Vit-C supplementation. At the fourth week, tissue resistance and all electrolyte transport activities were dezreased. An immunofluorescence study showed that the expression of cystic fibrosis conductance regulator (CFTR) was decreased in gulo(-/-) mice, whereas the expression of KCNQ1 K+ channel was preserved. Taken together, the CFTR-mediated Cl- secretion of airway epithelium is susceptible to oxidative stress, which suggests that supplementation of the antioxidant might be beneficial for the maintenance of airway surface liquid.