Referenced in: none

Automatically associated channels: Kv10.1

Title: Pass the bicarb: the importance of HCO3- for mucin release.

Authors: Robert C De Lisle

Journal, date & volume: J. Clin. Invest., 2009 Sep , 119, 2535-7

PubMed link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19726878

Abstract
Accumulation of thick, sticky mucus is a hallmark of the genetic disease cystic fibrosis (CF) and has a central role in CF pathophysiology. Mutations in the CF transmembrane regulator (CFTR) ion channel are known to result in abnormally thick and sticky mucus; however, why mucus accumulates in CF is still not completely understood. In this issue of the JCI, Garcia and colleagues show that mucin--the heavily glycosylated protein contained within mucus--requires CFTR and bicarbonate in order to be released from mouse intestine (see the related article beginning on page 2613). The authors propose a model whereby CFTR-mediated bicarbonate secretion must be concurrent with mucin exocytosis for proper mucin release.