cAMP and genistein stimulate HCO3- conductance through CFTR in human airway epithelia

We studied the role of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) Cl- channel as an HCO3- conductor during adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent regulation in human airway epithelial cell lines. HCO3- or Cl- currents across the apical membrane were measured in the presence of an HCO3- or Cl- gradient under short-circuit conditions in intact and alpha-toxin-permeabilized monolayers, which allowed manipulation of the intracellular regulators cAMP and ATP. CFTR as the current carrier for HCO3- was identified by 1) stimulation by cAMP, 2) ATP dependence, 3) blocker sensitivity, 4) stimulation by genistein, and 5) lack of stimulation in CF epithelia bearing mutated delta F508 CFTR. In pulmonary alpha-toxin-permeabilized Calu-3 monolayers, cytosolic addition of 100 microM cAMP stimulated apical HCO3- currents from -9.4 +/- 1.6 to -31.1 +/- 3.9 microA/cm2 (n = 18), and apical Cl- currents increased from -54.1 +/- 7.1 to -203.2 +/- 15.4 microA/cm2 (n = 27). Average relative permselectivity for HCO3- vs. Cl- was approximately 15%. Absence of cytosolic ATP resulted in loss of cAMP stimulation of HCO3- and Cl- currents. Genistein (50 microM), which has been proposed to inhibit phosphatases controlling apical CFTR, as well as the alkaline phosphatase inhibitor (-)-p-bromotetramisole (1 mM) further activated cAMP-stimulated HCO3- and Cl- currents. Activated currents remained stimulated on removal of cAMP, suggesting inhibition of a protein phosphatase by genistein and bromotetramisole. The Cl- channel blockers glibenclamide (300 microM) and N-phenylanthranilic acid (5 mM), but not 4,4'-dinitro-2,2'-stilbenedisulfonic acid (100 microM), inhibited cAMP- and genistein-stimulated HCO3- and Cl- currents. Blocker effects were absent in human CF tracheal cells homozygous for the delta F508 mutation of CFTR (CFT1); Cl- and HCO3- currents were rescued in CFT1 cells recombinantly expressing wild-type CFTR. Thus CFTR functions as a HCO3- and Cl- conductor, and genistein and bromotetramisole maximize CFTR activity in airway epithelial cells.