CFTR inhibitors for treating diarrheal disease

Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2012 Sep;92(3):287-90. doi: 10.1038/clpt.2012.114. Epub 2012 Aug 1.

Abstract

Secretory diarrhea remains a major health challenge worldwide. Excessive fluid secretion in the intestine caused by enterotoxins results in activation of luminal Cl- channels on enterocytes. The cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein is the major cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-regulated Cl- channel activated in cholera as well as in diarrheas caused by other bacterial enterotoxins. Small-molecule screens have yielded CFTR inhibitors with half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values as low as 4 nmol/l. The data from proof-of-concept studies in animal models support the development of CFTR inhibitors for antidiarrheal therapy.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antidiarrheals / pharmacology
  • Antidiarrheals / therapeutic use*
  • Biological Transport / drug effects
  • Biological Transport / physiology
  • Chloride Channels / drug effects
  • Chloride Channels / physiology
  • Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator / physiology
  • Diarrhea / drug therapy*
  • Diarrhea / etiology
  • Diarrhea / physiopathology
  • Enterotoxins / adverse effects
  • Humans
  • Intestines / drug effects
  • Intestines / physiopathology

Substances

  • Antidiarrheals
  • CFTR protein, human
  • Chloride Channels
  • Enterotoxins
  • Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator