Project description:Interactions in the airway ecology of cystic fibrosis may alter organism persistence and clinical outcomes. Better understanding of such interactions could guide clinical decisions. We used generalized estimating equations to fit logistic regression models to longitudinal 2-year patient cohorts in the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Patient Registry, 2003 to 2011, in order to study associations between the airway organisms present in each calendar year and their presence in the subsequent year. Models were adjusted for clinical characteristics and multiple observations per patient. Adjusted models were tested for sensitivity to cystic fibrosis-specific treatments. The study included 28,042 patients aged 6 years and older from 257 accredited U.S. care centers and affiliates. These patients had produced sputum specimens for at least two consecutive years that were cultured for methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant S. aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Burkholderia cepacia complex, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Achromobacter xylosoxidans, and Candida and Aspergillus species. We analyzed 99.8% of 538,458 sputum cultures from the patients during the study period. Methicillin-sensitive S. aureus was negatively associated with subsequent Paeruginosa. Paeruginosa was negatively associated with subsequent B. cepacia complex, Axylosoxidans, and Smaltophilia. Bcepacia complex was negatively associated with the future presence of all bacteria studied, as well as with that of Aspergillus species. Paeruginosa, B. cepacia complex, and S. maltophilia were each reciprocally and positively associated with Aspergillus species. Independently of patient characteristics, the organisms studied interact and alter the outcomes of treatment decisions, sometimes in unexpected ways. By inhibiting P. aeruginosa, methicillin-sensitive S. aureus may delay lung disease progression. Paeruginosa and B. cepacia complex may inhibit other organisms by decreasing airway biodiversity, potentially worsening lung disease.
Project description:The introduction of mutation-specific combination therapy with the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) modulators elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (ELX/TEZ/IVA) has substantially improved lung function and quality of life of people with cystic fibrosis (CF). Collecting deep cough swabs and induced sputum, this postapproval study examined the effect of 14- and 50-week treatment with ELX/TEZ/IVA on the airway microbial metagenome of pancreatic- insufficient CF patients aged 12 years and older. Compared to pretreatment, the total bacterial load decreased, the individual species were more evenly distributed in the community, and the individual microbial metagenomes became more similar in their composition. However, the microbial network remained vulnerable to fragmentation. The initial shift of the CF metagenome was attributable to the ELX/TEZ/IVA-mediated gain of CFTR activity followed by a diversification driven by a group of commensals at the 1-year time point that are typical for healthy airways. IMPORTANCE Shotgun metagenome sequencing of respiratory secretions with spike-in controls for normalization demonstrated that 1 year of high-efficient CFTR modulation with elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor extensively reduced the bacterial load. Longer observation periods will be necessary to resolve whether the partial reversion of the basic defect that is achieved with ELX/TEZ/IVA is sufficient in the long run to render the CF lungs robust against the recolonization with common opportunistic pathogens.
Project description:Years of tremendous study have dawned a new era for the treatment of cystic fibrosis (CF). For years CF care was rooted in the management of organ dysfunction resulting from the mal-effects of absent anion transport through the CF transmembrane regulator (CFTR) protein. CFTR, an adenosine triphosphate binding anion channel, has multiple functions, but primarily regulates the movement of chloride anions, thiocyanate and bicarbonate across luminal cell membranes. Additional roles include effects on other electrolyte channels such as the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) and on pulmonary innate immunity. Inappropriate luminal anion movement leads to elevated sweat chloride concentrations, dehydrated airway surface liquid, overall viscous mucous production, and inspissated bile and pancreatic secretions. As a result, patients develop the well-known CF symptoms and disease-defining complications such as chronic cough, oily stools, recurrent pulmonary infections, bronchiectasis, chronic sinusitis and malnutrition. Traditionally, CF has been symptomatically managed, but over the past 6 years those with CF have been offered a new mode of therapy; CFTR protein modulation. These medications affect the basic defect in CF: abnormal CFTR function. Ivacaftor, approved for use in the United States in 2012, is the first medication in CF history to improve CFTR function at the molecular level. Its study and approval were followed by two additional CFTR modulators, lumacaftor/ivacaftor and tezacaftor/ivacaftor. To effectively use currently available CF therapies, clinicians should be familiar with the side effects of the drugs and their impacts on patient outcomes. As many new modulators are on the horizon, this information will equip providers to discuss the benefits and shortcomings of modulator therapy especially in the context of limited healthcare resources.
Project description:OBJECTIVES:Study of currently approved drugs and exploration of future clinical development pipeline therapeutics for cystic fibrosis, and possible limitations in their use. METHODS:Extensive literature search using individual and a combination of key words related to cystic fibrosis therapeutics. KEY FINDINGS:Cystic fibrosis is an autosomal recessive disorder due to mutations in CFTR gene leading to abnormality of chloride channels in mucus and sweat producing cells. Respiratory system and GIT are primarily involved but eventually multiple organs are affected leading to life threatening complications. Management requires drug therapy, extensive physiotherapy and nutritional support. Previously, the focus was on symptomatic improvement and complication prevention but recently the protein rectifiers are being studied which are claimed to correct underlying structural and functional abnormalities. Some improvement is observed by the corrector drugs. Other promising approaches are gene therapy, targeting of cellular interactomes, and newer drugs for symptomatic improvement. CONCLUSIONS:The treatment has a long way to go as most of the existing therapeutics is for older children. Other limiting factors include mutation class, genetic profile, drug interactions, adverse effects, and cost. Novel approaches like gene transfer/gene editing, disease modeling and search for alternative targets are warranted.
Project description:This multi-center study will compare multi-target DNA and quantitative FIT stool-based testing to colonoscopy in individuals with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) undergoing colon cancer screening with colonoscopy. The primary endpoint is detection of any adenomas, including advanced adenomas and colorectal cancer (CRC).
Project description:The early detection of inflammation and infection is important to prevent irreversible lung damage in cystic fibrosis. Novel and non-invasive monitoring tools would be of high benefit for the quality of life of patients. Our group previously detected over 100 exhaled mass-to-charge (m/z) features, using on-line secondary electrospray ionization high-resolution mass spectrometry (SESI-HRMS), which distinguish children with cystic fibrosis from healthy controls. The aim of this study was to annotate as many m/z features as possible with putative chemical structures. Compound identification was performed by applying a rigorous workflow, which included the analysis of on-line MS2 spectra and a literature comparison. A total of 49 discriminatory exhaled compounds were putatively identified. A group of compounds including glycolic acid, glyceric acid and xanthine were elevated in the cystic fibrosis group. A large group of acylcarnitines and aldehydes were found to be decreased in cystic fibrosis. The proposed compound identification workflow was used to identify signatures of volatile organic compounds that discriminate children with cystic fibrosis from healthy controls, which is the first step for future non-invasive and personalized applications.
Project description:The endogenous signaling molecule S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) and other S-nitrosylating agents can cause full maturation of the abnormal gene product DeltaF508 cystic fibrosis (CF) transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). However, the molecular mechanism of action is not known. Here we show that Hsp70/Hsp90 organizing protein (Hop) is a critical target of GSNO, and its S-nitrosylation results in DeltaF508 CFTR maturation and cell surface expression. S-nitrosylation by GSNO inhibited the association of Hop with CFTR in the endoplasmic reticulum. This effect was necessary and sufficient to mediate GSNO-induced cell-surface expression of DeltaF508 CFTR. Hop knockdown using siRNA recapitulated the effect of GSNO on DeltaF508 CFTR maturation and expression. Moreover, GSNO acted additively with decreased temperature, which promoted mutant CFTR maturation through a Hop-independent mechanism. We conclude that GSNO corrects DeltaF508 CFTR trafficking by inhibiting Hop expression, and that combination therapies--using differing mechanisms of action--may have additive benefits in treating CF.
Project description:Objective: Cell migration is an essential process in skin wound healing. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) enhances wound healing by photoactivating a photosensitizer with a specific wavelength of light. Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is an ion channel expressed in multiple layers of keratinocytes. Recent studies showed that the activation of CFTR-related downstream signaling affects skin wound healing. We examined whether indocyanine green (ICG)-mediated PDT-enhanced cell migration is related to CFTR activation. Approach: The spatial and temporal expression levels of CFTR and proteins involved in focal adhesion, including focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and paxillin, were evaluated during cell migration in vitro and in vivo for wound healing. Results: ICG-PDT-conditioned medium collected from cells exposed to 5 J/cm2 near-infrared light in the presence of 100 μg/mL ICG activated CFTR and enhanced HaCaT cell migration. The expression of phosphorylated FAK Tyr861 and phosphorylated paxillin in focal adhesions was spatially and temporally regulated in parallel by ICG-PDT-conditioned medium. Curcumin, a nonspecific activator of CFTR, further increased PDT-enhanced cell migration, whereas inhibition of CFTR and FAK delayed cell migration. The involvement of CFTR in ICG-PDT-enhanced skin wound healing was confirmed in a mouse back skin wound model. Innovation: CFTR is a potential new therapeutic target in ICG-PDT to enhance wound healing. Conclusion: ICG-PDT-enhanced cell migration may be related to activation of the CFTR and FAK pathway. Conditioned medium collected from ICG-PDT may be useful for treating patients with chronic skin ulcer by regulating CFTR expression in keratinocytes.
Project description:Living with cystic fibrosis (CF) exposes patients to the risk of developing anxiety and depression, with therapeutic compliance reduction, hospitalization increase, and quality of life and health outcomes deterioration. As pulmonary infections represent the major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with CF, environmental contamination due to droplet dispersion and the potential transmission from environment to such patients should be prevented. Therefore, in-person contact, including group-based psychotherapy, are strongly discouraged. Nevertheless, group sharing of disease-related experiences represents a way to recover the inner resources essential for dealing with a chronic pathology. Keeping in mind the guidelines for infection control, the aim of this study is to evaluate the risk of the dissemination of microorganisms in a restricted environment where patients with CF attend group psychotherapy sessions. Five patients, selected according to their microbiological status, attended 32 group-based psychological/psychoanalytic meetings. Before each session, they were asked to observe the infection control recommendations. Microbiological environmental monitoring (MEM) has been performed to evaluate both air and surface contamination. As reported, a strict observation of standard precautions allows one to avoid environmental contamination by pathogens of the CF respiratory tract. Although infection control guidelines discourage group-based psychological/psychoanalytic interventions, our observations report the feasibility and safety of group psychotherapy when strict precautions are taken.
Project description:Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive genetic disease characterized by mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). CFTR is a chloride channel responsible for ion flow across epithelial surfaces of lung, sinuses, pancreas, intestine, and liver. Researchers have grouped CFTR genetic mutations into various protein defects: reduced protein synthesis (class 1 mutations), abnormal protein folding and maturation (class 2 mutation), and abnormal gating (class 3 mutation). These mutations usually present as severe forms of CF due to complete absence of CFTR at cell surfaces. Milder forms (eg, protein maturation and conductance defects, classes 4-6) present as less severe forms of CF related to the presence of CFTR at the cell surface. Differences in severity are directly due to CFTR function which is based on the severity of CFTR mutation. This knowledge has proven useful for designing therapy for individual mutations and mutation classes. The discovery and US Food and Drug Administration approval of Kalydeco® (ivacaftor) in early 2011 marked the beginning of a new era of therapies that are focused on improving defective CFTR protein function. However, due to its specificity for the G551D mutation, ivacaftor only benefit?5% of CF patients. Approximately 50% of CF patients have two copies of the F508Del mutation, while other CF patients carry only one copy of this gene. More recently, Orkambi®, a two compound medication composed of lumacaftor and ivacaftor, has provided the foundation necessary to further build on molecular concepts of: correction of trafficking, potentiation, and amplification of defective CFTR. These new concepts will form the basis of future CF therapies and extend CFTR treatment to almost 50% of CF patients. Evolving knowledge of the molecular mechanisms responsible for defective CFTR has prompted new research focused on "repair" of each phase of CFTR expression and function, thus creating a new class of combination "CFTR correctors" referred to as "triplet CFTR compounds." This article will review how patients can be selected and treated with these newer agents that are based on specific mutations. In the future, many CF practitioners have expectations that initiation of treatment for CF patients will occur simply by use of biomarkers of CFTR expression (eg, sweat chloride, nasal potential difference, rectal organoids) rather than testing for specific mutations. As continued research identifies biomarkers with greater specificity and which predict clinical response, therapies can potentially be tailored to individual responses.