The porcine lung as a potential model for cystic fibrosis

Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol. 2008 Aug;295(2):L240-63. doi: 10.1152/ajplung.90203.2008. Epub 2008 May 16.

Abstract

Airway disease currently causes most of the morbidity and mortality in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). However, understanding the pathogenesis of CF lung disease and developing novel therapeutic strategies have been hampered by the limitations of current models. Although the gene encoding the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) has been targeted in mice, CF mice fail to develop lung or pancreatic disease like that in humans. In many respects, the anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, size, and genetics of pigs resemble those of humans. Thus pigs with a targeted CFTR gene might provide a good model for CF. Here, we review aspects of porcine airways and lung that are relevant to CF.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cystic Fibrosis / complications
  • Cystic Fibrosis / genetics*
  • Cystic Fibrosis / metabolism
  • Cystic Fibrosis / mortality*
  • Cystic Fibrosis / pathology
  • Cystic Fibrosis / therapy
  • Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator / genetics*
  • Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator / metabolism*
  • Disease Models, Animal*
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Pancreatic Diseases / complications
  • Pancreatic Diseases / genetics
  • Pancreatic Diseases / metabolism
  • Pancreatic Diseases / pathology
  • Pancreatic Diseases / therapy
  • Swine / genetics*
  • Swine / metabolism*

Substances

  • Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator