Staphylococcus aureus in chronic rhinosinusitis: the effect on the epithelial chloride channel (cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator, CFTR) and the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) physiology

Abstract

Background: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is an inflammatory disease of the nose and the paranasal sinuses, often associated with an infection by Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). Disturbance in the function of ion channels is regarded as an etiological factor for pathogenesis of CRS.

Aims: The study aims to measure the mRNA expression of the ENaC and CFTR ion channels in nasal epithelial cells (NECs) and to investigate the effect of both the budesonide and S. aureus on these ion channels.

Materials and method: NECs biopsies obtained from healthy volunteers and patients with CRS. NECs were infected with S. aureus strains and/or budesonide to study the mRNA expression levels of the ENaC and CFTR ion channels.

Results: The mRNA expression level of CFTR was increased while that of ENaC was decreased. S. aureus infection and budesonide treatment induced a significant modulation of ENaC and CFTR ion channels expression.

Conclusion: The CFTR and ENaC ion channel physiology are of importance in the pathogenesis of CRS. Exposure to S. aureus infection and treatment with budesonide modulated the mRNA expression of CFTR and ENaC ion channels.

Significance: Better understanding of the pathophysiology of CRS.

Chinese abstract

背景：慢性鼻窦炎（CRS）是一种鼻和鼻窦的炎症性疾病, 通常与金黄色葡萄球菌（S. aureus）感染有关。离子通道功能紊乱被认为是CRS发病的病因。

目的：本研究旨在测量鼻上皮细胞（NECS）中ENAC和CFTR离子通道的mRNA表达, 并探讨布地奈德和金黄色葡萄球菌对这些离子通道的影响。

材料和方法：对健康志愿者和CRS患者进行NECS活检。将NEC感染上金黄色葡萄球菌菌株和/或布地奈德, 研究ENAC和CFTR离子通道的mRNA表达水平。

结果：CFTR的mRNA表达水平升高, 而ENAC的mRNA表达水平降低。金黄色葡萄球菌感染和布地奈德治疗可显著调节ENAC和CFTR离子通道的表达。

结论：CFTR和ENAC离子通道生理学在CRS发病机制中具有重要作用。受金黄色葡萄球菌感染和布地奈德治疗可调节CFTR和ENAC离子通道的mRNA表达。

意义：更好地了解CRS的病理生理学。

Keywords:

• Chronic rhinosinusitis
• ENaC and CFTR ion channel expression

Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledge the contribution of the late Prof. Godfried M. Roomans to this paper. We express our thanks to the doctors and nurses at the Otolaryngology Clinic, University Hospital Örebro, Sweden.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the grants from the Research Committee in Region Örebro County and The Foundation for Medical Research at the University Hospital Örebro (Örebro, Sweden).