Composition Of Airway Surface Fluid Research Articles

Low Ambient [Cl−] Increases Ca2+ Mobilization and Stimulates Nitric Oxide and Prostaglandin E2 Production in Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells

Changes in ionic composition of airway surface fluid may modulate airway epithelial functions. We tested the hypothesis that fluctuations of ambient ionic composition could affect airway epithelial Ca(2+) dynamics and Ca(2+)-dependent cellular functions, including NO release and PGE(2) production in vitro. The responses of intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) to changes in extracellular Cl(-) and Na(+ )concentrations ([Cl(-)](e), [Na(+)](e)) in the human bronchial epithelial cell line, 16HBE cells, were measured by the fura-2 method. The NO release to the medium after lowering [Cl(-)](e) was measured by an amperometric NO sensor. PGE(2) production was measured by radioimmunoassay. Changing to isotonic low [Cl(-)](e) solution by substitution with gluconate caused a sustained increase in [Ca(2+)](i) in a concentration-dependent manner, with the maximal [Ca(2+)](i) increase from the baseline level being 243 +/- 110 nM with Cl-free solution. The effect was not altered by thapsigargin but abolished by EGTA and by Cl channel blockers, including diphenylamine-2-carboxylate, disodium 4,4'-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonate, and disodium cromoglycate. In contrast, the effect of reduction of [Na(+)](e) by substitution with N-methyl-D-glucamine(+) on [Ca(2+)](i) was less than that of reduction of [Cl(-)](e). The reduction of [Cl(-)](e) caused a concentration-dependent rise in NO contents in the medium and PGE(2) production. This release of NO was inhibited by EGTA but not by dexamethasone pretreatment. These results suggest that the decrease in ambient [Cl(-)] induces Ca(2+) mobilization probably through Ca(2+) influx, followed by the release of NO and PGE(2), thereby modulating various cellular functions.

IL-4 is a potent modulator of ion transport in the human bronchial epithelium in vitro.

Recent data show that proinflammatory stimuli may modify significantly ion transport in the airway epithelium and therefore the properties of the airway surface fluid. We have studied the effect of IL-4, a cytokine involved in the pathogenesis of asthma, on transepithelial ion transport in the human bronchial epithelium in vitro. Incubation of polarized bronchial epithelial cells with IL-4 for 6-48 h causes a marked inhibition of the amiloride-sensitive Na(+) channel as measured in short circuit current experiments. On the other hand, IL-4 evokes a 2-fold increase in the current activated by a cAMP analog, which reflects the activity of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). Similarly, IL-4 enhances the response to apical UTP, an agonist that activates Ca(2+)-dependent Cl(-) channels. These effects are mimicked by IL-13 and blocked by an antagonist of IL-4Ralpha. RT-PCR experiments show that IL-4 elicits a 7-fold decrease in the level of the gamma amiloride-sensitive Na(+) channel mRNA, one of the subunits of the amiloride-sensitive Na(+) channel, and an increase in CFTR mRNA. Our data suggest that IL-4 may favor the hydration of the airway surface by decreasing Na(+) absorption and increasing Cl(-) secretion. This could be required to fluidify the mucus, which is hypersecreted during inflammatory conditions. On the other hand, the modifications of ion transport could also affect the ion composition of airway surface fluid.

Effect of luminal osmolarity on ion content of connective tissue in rat trachea after epithelial damage.

The authors investigated the physical role of the airway epithelium in response to changes in the airway surface fluid's composition by superperfusing the lumen with nonisotonic solutions. Morphological studies and measurements of changes in ion content in the underlying connective tissue (CT) were carried out. The study used an experimental model of isolated rat trachea. The trachea was mounted in an extraluminal organ bath with Ringer's solution, whereas the lumen was perfused with a fluid in which the NaCl concentration was varied. The tissue was fixed for electron microscopy or frozen for X-ray microanalysis. X-ray microanalysis showed that the Na and Cl content of the CT increased with increasing luminal NaCl concentrations. This increase was significantly larger when the tight junctions had been damaged by exposure to ethylene glycol tetra-acetic acid. At high luminal NaCl concentrations, electron microscopy showed that a significant influx of fluid into the CT had occurred in tracheae with damaged epithelia. Damage to the epithelium also resulted in ultrastructural changes in myofibroblasts, increased diameter of capillaries, and thickening of the basement membrane. The epithelium evidently plays a crucial role in the regulation of the ion content of the connective tissue in the airway wall, and epithelial damage may explain the greater sensitivity to provocation with hyperosmolar sodium chloride solutions or airway dehydration observed in patients with asthma or cystic fibrosis.

Salt-independent abnormality of antimicrobial activity in cystic fibrosis airway surface fluid.

The link between the genetic defect in cystic fibrosis (CF) and the recently described breach in pulmonary host defense has focused on the role of salt and water metabolism in the airways. Using a human bronchial xenograft model we demonstrate a salt-independent abnormality in bacterial killing in CF airway surface fluid (ASF). Biochemical characterization implicates the absence or dysfunction of a molecule critical to the constitution of normal bacterial killing. Our study suggests that CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) deficiency causes a primary abnormality in the composition of ASF that leads to a salt-independent defect in host defense. Importantly, this defect is corrected by adenovirus-mediated gene transfer of CFTR.

Analysis of proteins in microsamples of rat airway surface fluid by capillary electrophoresis

A thin layer of airway surface fluid (ASF) lining the pulmonary airways plays an important role in the primary defense mechanisms of the lung against bacterial infection. However, little is known about the composition of ASF due to the thinness (typically 5–30 μm in healthy animals) of the fluid layer and its relative inaccessibility, which causes considerable difficulties in sample collection and subsequent analysis. We have used a novel technique of capillary sampling coupled with capillary electrophoresis (CE) to analyze the protein composition of rat ASF. CE analyses were performed under two different conditions: a borate buffer, pH 9.1, or a phosphate buffer, pH 2.5, with 0.5 m M spermine. The different selectivities afforded by the two methods aid in peak identification, and quantitation of most of the major species was possible using both separation conditions. Albumin, transferrin and globulins are observed to be the major protein components in rat ASF, at concentrations of 28 mg ml −1, 4.0 mg ml −1 and 34 mg ml −1 respectively, in comparison to 31 mg ml −1, 3.1 mg ml −1 and 40 mg ml −1, respectively, in rat plasma.

Microanalysis of lung airway surface fluid by capillary electrophoresis with conductivity detection.

The thin layer of fluid that covers the surface of the epithelia lining the conducting airways plays an important role in primary pulmonary defense, and its composition may be a critical factor in the pathogenesis of several lung diseases including cystic fibrosis. Despite its physiological importance, the composition of airway surface fluid (ASF) is poorly understood due to considerable difficulties in sample collection from the 5-30 microns thick layer and subsequent analysis. We have used a novel technique for sample collection and microanalysis of ASF (nanoliter sample required) by capillary electrophoresis with conductivity detection. Limitations on the diameters of capillary required for the sample injection process and for the conductivity detector require the use of coupled separation capillaries with different external diameters. Two different methods were used to construct a butt-joint coupling for capillaries of different outer diameters. Reasonable efficiency is observed with the coupled capillaries (N = 100000 plates m-1) compared to an unbroken single capillary (N = 180000 plates m-1). The use of conductivity detection allows greater flexibility in method development and the possibility of determining a greater variety of ions than with a previous indirect-UV method. In the present study, we describe the analysis of cations (Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+) and anions (Cl-, NO2-, NO3-, SO4(2-), PO4(2-), HCO3-) in rat ASF. Particular attention was paid to developing washing procedures which limited fouling of the conductivity sensor. In healthy rats, ASF was found to be hypotonic compared to plasma levels, consistent with some observations made in human airways.

Determination of the inorganic ion composition of rat airway surface fluid by capillary electrophoresis: direct sample injection to allow multiple analyses from nanoliter volumes.

The pulmonary airways are covered by a layer of airway surface fluid (ASF) which is typically < 30 microm in thickness. ASF composition is an important factor in the pathogenesis of several lung diseases including cystic fibrosis. Because of the very small volume of ASF, it is difficult to determine ASF composition, Particularly for inorganic ions, since sampling by lavage is not suitable. With nanoliter injected volumes, capillary electrophoresis (CE) is ideally suited to ASF analysis. We have developed a novel technique using separate sampling and injection capillaries whereby submicroliter volumes of ASF (typically approximately 100 nL) can be collected from airways and then analyzed by CE. Cations (Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+) and anions (including Cl-) are quantitated (RSD < 10%) using indirect UV detection. In healthy rat lungs, ASF was found to be hypotonic, consistent with observations made in human airways. This technique has been developed using rats, which have not previously been studied because their small size prohibits the use of other sampling techniques.

Filter paper equilibration as a novel technique for in vitro studies of the composition of airway surface fluid.

We describe techniques which we developed to study the composition and regulation of airway surface fluid (ASF). ASF from isolated equine tracheal mucosa was absorbed onto or equilibrated with small strips of ashless filter paper after timed incubations in a water-saturated, 37 degrees C environment. After expression of the fluid from the paper, constant-volume aliquots of the samples were pipetted with a microvolumetric pipette on a filmed grid, together with standards containing known concentrations for Na, Cl, K, Ca, S, and P. Analysis of the microdroplets by dispersive X-ray microanalysis on a scanning electron microscope demonstrated that ASF from "unstimulated" tracheal tissue is significantly altered compared with the Ringer solution which was used to rinse the mucosal surface before incubation, in that Na is significantly decreased (approximately 130 mM), whereas K is significantly increased (approximately 16 mM). Furthermore, when a beta-adrenergic agonist (isoproterenol 10(-4) M) was added to the serosal surface, the Na concentration significantly increased to values which approached Ringer solution (146 +/- 5.3 mM) and were significantly different compared with the Na values obtained in unstimulated tissues. In contrast, Na remained unchanged after addition of a cholinergic agonist (metacholine, 10(-4) M) to the serosal side of the tissue; however, as with beta-adrenergic stimulation, most other minor elements and especially K significantly decreased compared with their values in unstimulated tissue. These results clearly suggest that ASF composition is clearly controlled by active transport of the airway epithelium and may be influenced by neurohumoral stimulation.