Deleterious impact of hyperglycemia on cystic fibrosis airway ion transport and epithelial repair.

Background: Cystic fibrosis (CF)-related diabetes (CFRD) is associated with faster pulmonary function decline. Thus, we evaluated the impact of hyperglycemia on airway epithelial repair and transepithelial ion transport, which are critical in maintaining lung integrity and function.
Methods: Non-CF and CF airway epithelial cells were exposed to low (LG) or high (HG) glucose before ion current and wound repair rate measurements.
Results: CFTR and K+ currents decreased after HG treatments. HG also reduced the wound healing rates of non-CF and CF cell monolayers. Although CFTR correction with VRT-325 accelerated the healing rates of CF cells monolayers under LG conditions, this improvement was significantly abrogated under HG conditions.
Conclusions: Our data highlights a deleterious impact of hyperglycemia on ion transport and epithelial repair functions, which could contribute to the deterioration in lung function in CFRD patients. HG may also interfere with the beneficial effects of CFTR rescue on airway epithelial repair.
(Copyright © 2015 European Cystic Fibrosis Society. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)