Intestinal CFTR expression alleviates meconium ileus in cystic fibrosis pigs

J Clin Invest. 2013 Jun;123(6):2685-93. doi: 10.1172/JCI68867. Epub 2013 May 8.

Abstract

Cystic fibrosis (CF) pigs develop disease with features remarkably similar to those in people with CF, including exocrine pancreatic destruction, focal biliary cirrhosis, micro-gallbladder, vas deferens loss, airway disease, and meconium ileus. Whereas meconium ileus occurs in 15% of babies with CF, the penetrance is 100% in newborn CF pigs. We hypothesized that transgenic expression of porcine CF transmembrane conductance regulator (pCFTR) cDNA under control of the intestinal fatty acid-binding protein (iFABP) promoter would alleviate the meconium ileus. We produced 5 CFTR-/-;TgFABP>pCFTR lines. In 3 lines, intestinal expression of CFTR at least partially restored CFTR-mediated anion transport and improved the intestinal phenotype. In contrast, these pigs still had pancreatic destruction, liver disease, and reduced weight gain, and within weeks of birth, they developed sinus and lung disease, the severity of which varied over time. These data indicate that expressing CFTR in intestine without pancreatic or hepatic correction is sufficient to rescue meconium ileus. Comparing CFTR expression in different lines revealed that approximately 20% of wild-type CFTR mRNA largely prevented meconium ileus. This model may be of value for understanding CF pathophysiology and testing new preventions and therapies.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Cystic Fibrosis / metabolism*
  • Cystic Fibrosis / pathology
  • Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator / biosynthesis*
  • Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator / deficiency
  • Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator / genetics
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • Female
  • Gene Expression
  • Humans
  • Ileum / metabolism
  • Ileum / pathology
  • Ileus / metabolism*
  • Ileus / pathology
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Lung / diagnostic imaging
  • Lung / metabolism
  • Lung / pathology
  • Male
  • Meconium / metabolism
  • Pancreas / metabolism
  • Pancreas / pathology
  • Phenotype
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Radiography
  • Rats
  • Sus scrofa
  • Trachea / metabolism
  • Trachea / pathology

Substances

  • Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins
  • Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator