CFTR pharmacology and its role in intestinal fluid secretion.

The cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is a cAMP-activated Cl(-) channel expressed in epithelial cells in the airways, pancreas, intestine and other fluid-transporting tissues. Cystic fibrosis is caused by mutations in the CFTR, resulting in impaired Cl(-) transport and plasma membrane targeting. CFTR is expressed in the lumenal membrane of enterocytes, where it functions as the principal pathway for secretion of Cl(-) and fluid in enterotoxin-induced secretory diarrheas such as cholera. Small-molecule CFTR inhibitors reduce enterotoxin-induced intestinal fluid secretion in animal models. CFTR inhibition might also reduce intestinal fluid losses in cholera and possibly in other infectious and non-infectious diarrheas.