Cellular ATP release by the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator

Recent studies from our laboratory indicate that members of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) family of transporters, including P-glycoprotein and cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), are ATP-permeable channels. The physiological relevance of this novel transport mechanism is largely unknown. In the present study, intra- and extracellular ATP content, cellular ATP release, and O2 consumption before and after adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) stimulation were determined to assess the role of CFTR in the transport of ATP under physiological conditions. The functional expression of CFTR by the stable transfection of mouse mammary carcinoma cells, C1271, with human epithelial CFTR cDNA resulted in a stimulated metabolism, since both basal and cAMP-inducible O2 consumption were increased compared with mock-transfected cells. The stimulated (but not basal) O2 consumption was inhibited by diphenyl-2-carboxylic acid (DPC), a known inhibitor of CFTR. CFTR expression was also associated with the cAMP-activated and DPC-inhibitable release of intracellular ATP. The recovery of intracellular ATP from complete depletion after metabolic poisoning was also assessed under basal and cAMP-stimulated conditions. The various maneuvers indicate that CFTR may be an important contributor to the release of cellular ATP, which may help modify signal transduction pathways associated with secretory Cl- movement or other related processes. Changes in the CFTR-mediated delivery of nucleotides to the extracellular compartment may play an important role in the onset and reversal of the cystic fibrosis phenotype.