Molecular mechanisms controlling CFTR gene expression in the airway

Molecular mechanisms controlling CFTR gene expression in the airway

The low levels of CFTR gene expression and paucity of CFTR protein in human airway epithelial cells are not easily reconciled with the pivotal role of the lung in cystic fibrosis pathology. Previous data suggested that the regulatory mechanisms controlling CFTR gene expression might be different in airway epithelium in comparison to intestinal epithelium where CFTR mRNA and protein is much more...

Transcriptional Mechanisms Controlling miR-375 Gene Expression in the Pancreas

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small non-coding RNAs that play an important role in mediating a broad and expanding range of biological activities. miR-375 is expressed selectively in the pancreas. We have previously shown that selective expression of miR-375 in pancreatic beta cells is controlled by transcriptional mechanisms operating through a TATA box-containing promoter. Expression of m...

Novel regulatory mechanisms for the CFTR gene.

The CFTR (cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator) gene, which when mutated causes cystic fibrosis, encompasses nearly 200 kb of genomic DNA at chromosome 7q31.2. It is flanked by two genes ASZ1 [ankyrin repeat, SAM (sterile alpha-motif) and basic leucine zipper] and CTTNBP2 (cortactin-binding protein 2), which have very different expression profiles. CFTR is expressed primarily in ...

CFTR Gene Transfer and Tracking the CFTR Protein in the Airway Epithelium

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive genetic disease caused by mutations in a single gene, the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. This disease primarily involves epithelial cells of the respiratory system, intestine, pancreas, gall bladder, and sweat glands. Although several organs are affected, the main cause of CF mortality and morbidity is due to pulmo...

Central mechanisms controlling upper airway patency