Critical role of down-regulated in adenoma bicarbonate transporter in linaclotide stimulated intestinal bicarbonate secretion.

Duodenal bicarbonate secretion is critical to epithelial protection, nutrient digestion/absorption and is impaired in cystic fibrosis (CF). We examined if linaclotide, typically used to treat constipation, may also alter duodenal bicarbonate secretion. Bicarbonate secretion was measured in vivo and in vitro using mouse and human duodenum. Ion transporter localization was identified with confocal microscopy and de novo analysis of human duodenal single cell RNA sequencing (sc-RNAseq) was performed. Linaclotide increased bicarbonate secretion in mouse and human duodenum in the absence of CFTR expression or function. Linaclotide-stimulated bicarbonate secretion was eliminated by down-regulated in adenoma (DRA) inhibition, regardless of CFTR activity. Sc-RNAseq identified that 70% of villus cells expressed SLC26A3, but not CFTR, mRNA. Linaclotide increased apical membrane expression of DRA in non-CF and CF differentiated enteroids. These data provide insights into the action of linaclotide and suggest linaclotide may be a useful therapy for CF individuals with impaired bicarbonate secretion.

Targeted replacement of full-length CFTR in human airway stem cells by CRISPR-Cas9 for pan-mutation correction in the endogenous locus.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a monogenic disease caused by impaired production and/or function of the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein. Although we have previously shown correction of the most common pathogenic mutation, there are many other pathogenic mutations throughout the CF gene. An autologous airway stem cell therapy in which the CFTR cDNA is precisely inserted into the CFTR locus may enable the development of a durable cure for almost all CF patients, irrespective of the causal mutation. Here, we use CRISPR-Cas9 and two adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) carrying the two halves of the CFTR cDNA to sequentially insert the full CFTR cDNA along with a truncated CD19 (tCD19) enrichment tag in upper airway basal stem cells (UABCs) and human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs). The modified cells were enriched to obtain 60%-80% tCD19+ UABCs and HBECs from 11 different CF donors with a variety of mutations. Differentiated epithelial monolayers cultured at air-liquid interface showed restored CFTR function that was >70% of the CFTR function in non-CF controls. Thus, our study enables the development of a therapy for almost all CF patients, including patients who cannot be treated using recently approved modulator therapies.