Analysis of ion transport in the airway epithelium using RNA interference

Knowledge of the physiology of airway epithelium had been limited by the lack of potent and selective inhibitors of the ion channels, transporters and regulators involved in transepithelial electrolyte and fluid transport. The use of siRNA technology to downregulate the expression of a given gene represents a useful method for studying the function of proteins in both native cells and tissues, enabling a more precise assessment of the contribution of single proteins to the general transport process in the airway epithelium and an evaluation of the contribution of these proteins in various respiratory conditions. This review focuses on recent research involving siRNA-based silencing of proteins implicated in ion transport through the airway epithelium, illustrating how this technology has increased our understanding of the function and regulation of the transport pathway, and has helped to identify new targets for drugs and to uncover the function of newly identified proteins.