nNOS regulates ciliated cell polarity, ciliary beat frequency, and directional flow in mouse trachea

Clearance of the airway is dependent on directional mucus flow across mucociliary epithelium, and deficient implicated in a range human disorders. Efficient relies proper polarization multiciliated cells sufficient ciliary beat frequency. We show that NO, produced by nNOS mouse trachea, controls both planar polarity frequency thereby necessary for generation robust flow. The effect ciliated its interactions with apical networks actin microtubules involves RhoA activation. action mediated guanylate cyclase; NO donors cGMP can augment fluid trachea rescue mutants. Our results link insufficient availability to defects activity may explain low levels exhaled ciliopathies.