Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) killed more people in 2017 than any other single infectious agent. This dangerous pathogen is able to withstand stresses imposed by the immune system and tolerate exposure to antibiotics, resulting in persistent infection. The global tuberculosis (TB) epidemic has been exacerbated by the emergence of mutant strains of Mtb that are resistant to frontline antibiotics. Thus, both phenotypic drug tolerance and genetic drug resistance are major obstacles to successful TB therapy. Using a chemical approach to identify compounds that block stress and drug tolerance, as opposed to traditional screens for compounds that kill Mtb, we identified a small molecule, C10, that blocks tolerance to oxidative stress, acid stress, and the frontline antibiotic isoniazid (INH). In addition, we found that C10 prevents the selection for INH-resistant mutants and restores INH sensitivity in otherwise INH-resistant Mtb strains harboring mutations in the katG gene, which encodes the enzyme that converts the prodrug INH to its active form. Through mechanistic studies, we discovered that C10 inhibits Mtb respiration, revealing a link between respiration homeostasis and INH sensitivity. Therefore, by using C10 to dissect Mtb persistence, we discovered that INH resistance is not absolute and can be reversed.
Previously, we have shown that pancreatic acini release adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and ATP-handling enzymes, and pancreatic ducts express various purinergic P2 receptors. The aim of the present study was to establish whether pancreatic ducts also express adenosine receptors and whether these could be involved in secretory processes, which involve cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR) Cl- channels or Ca2+-activated Cl- channels and H(+)/HCO(-)(3) transporters. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction analysis on rat pancreatic ducts and human duct cell adenocarcinoma lines showed that they express A1, A2A, A2B, and A3 receptors. Real-time PCR revealed relatively low messenger RNA levels of adenosine receptors compared to beta-actin; the rank order for the receptors was A2A>A2B>or=A3>>A1 for rat pancreas and A2B>A2A>>A3>or=A1 for duct cell lines. Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings on rat pancreatic ducts showed that, in about half of the recordings, adenosine depolarized the membrane voltage, and this was because of the opening of Cl- channels. Using a Cl--sensitive fluorophore and single-cell imaging on duct cell lines, it was found that 58% of PANC-1 cells responded to adenosine, whereas only 9% of CFPAC-1 cells responded. Adenosine elicited Ca2+ signals only in a few rat and human duct cells, which did not seem to correlate with Cl- signals. A2A receptors were localized in the luminal membranes of rat pancreatic ducts, plasma membrane of many PANC-1 cells, but only a few CFPAC-1 cells. Taken together, our data indicate that A2A receptors open Cl- channels in pancreatic ducts cells with functional CFTR. We propose that adenosine can stimulate pancreatic secretion and, thereby, is an active player in the acini-to-duct signaling.
Purinergic receptors regulate various processes including epithelial transport. There are several studies on P2 receptors in pancreatic ducts of various species, but relatively little is known about these receptors in human tissue. The aim of this study was to identify purinergic receptors in human pancreatic duct cell lines PANC-1 and CFPAC-1. Expression of P2 receptors was examined using RT-PCR and immunocytochemistry. Both cell lines, and also Capan-1 cells, express RNA transcripts for the following receptors: P2Y1, P2Y2, P2Y4, P2Y6, P2Y11-14 and P2X1, P2X2, P2X4, P2X5, P2X6 and P2X7. Using Fura-2 and single-cell imaging we tested effects of various nucleotide analogues on intracellular Ca2+ signals in PANC-1 and CFPAC-1 cells. The cell lines responded to all nucleotides with the following efficiency: UTP ≧ ATP = ATPγS > BzATP. ATP, UTP and ATPγS elicited oscillatory responses. BzATP, commonly used to stimulate P2X7 receptors, elicited non-oscillatory and transient Ca2+ responses. Ivermectin, a potentiator of P2X4 receptors, increased Ca2+ signals evoked by ATP. The single cell Ca2+ measurements indicated functional expression of P2Y2 and other P2Y receptors, and notably expression of P2X4 and P2X7 receptors. Expression of P2Y2, P2X4 and P2X7 receptors was confirmed by immunocytochemistry. This fingerprint of P2 receptors in human pancreatic duct models forms the basis for studying effect of nucleotides on ion and fluid secretion, as well as on Ca2+ and tissue homeostasis relevant in physiology and pathophysiology of pancreas.
Many epithelia express specific Na(+) channels (ENaC) together with the cystic fibrosis regulator (CFTR) Cl(-) channels. Pancreatic ducts secrete HCO(3)(-)-rich fluid and express CFTR. However, the question whether they possess ENaC has not been consistently addressed. The aim of the present study was to investigate if pancreatic ducts express functional ENaC. Membrane voltages (V) of ducts isolated from rat pancreas were measured with microelectrodes or whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Amiloride and benzamil given from bath or luminal sides did not hyperpolarize V. Lowering of extracellular Na(+) concentrations had effects that were not consistent with a simple Na(+) conductance, but rather with a Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchange. Acute or long-lasting treatment of pancreatic ducts with mineralocorticoids had no effect on V of unstimulated or secretin-stimulated preparations. Furthermore, pre-treatment of animals with glucocorticoids had no effect on pancreatic fluid secretion evoked from ducts, or from acini. Hence, our study shows that pancreas especially pancreatic ducts do not express functional ENaC.
Most purinergic receptors activate intracellular Ca2+ signalling, and in epithelia they stimulate transport of major ions. Aim of the present study on pancreatic ducts was to find whether P2 receptors also regulate cellular Ca2+ transport, such as that via the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (NCX). Since NCX can also be connected with epithelial Ca2+ transport, we also investigated expression of some Ca2+-handling/transporting proteins. Expression analysis revealed that pancreatic ducts of rat and human duct cell line CFPAC-1 (also PANC-1 and Capan-1) express the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (splice variants NCX1.3 and 1.7), as well as the Ca2+-sensing receptor and the Ca2+-binding protein calbindin-D 9k. These proteins localize to the luminal and lateral membranes of pancreatic duct epithelia. Ca2+ imaging experiments showed that activation of purinergic P2Y and P2X receptors stimulated NCX in human and rat duct cells. Application of ATP to CFPAC-1 monolayers also stimulated Ca2+ transport from the luminal to the basolateral side. Taken together, these results show that pancreatic ducts express a number of Ca2+-handling/transporting proteins and we propose that these together with purinergic receptors play a role in regulation of duct lumen Ca2+ content.
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