Pharmacological modulation of ion transport to treat the basic defect in cystic fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis (CF), one of the most frequent genetic diseases, is caused by loss of function of CFTR, a membrane protein that mediates chloride and bicarbonate transport in the epithelia of different organs. Loss of CFTR function affects multiple organs but resultant lung disease is the major cause of morbidity and mortality in CF. The lack of CFTR impairs the innate natural defenses of the airways causing bacterial infection and mucus accumulation.
This basic defect in CF can be targeted with pharmacological strategies. Depending on the type of mutations, CFTR activity can be restored with specific drugs called correctors and potentiators.
My research group has been particularly active in the search for effective correctors and potentiators to treat the basic defect in CF. In collaboration with Prof. Alan S. Verkman (University of California San Francisco) we developed high-throughput methods that were subsequently used to screen large chemical libraries. With this strategy, several active molecules were found. High-throughput screening also allowed identification of potent and selective CFTR inhibitors (e.g. CFTRinh-172) that are important as tools of research.
I also collaborated with a research team led by Dr. Tiziano Bandiera at the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT) to find novel CFTR correctors. The project, supported by the Italian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (FFC), led to the discovery of the corrector ARN23765,endowed with picomolar potency.
The basic defect in CF can be potentially corrected by targeting other proteins. This is particularly important for CF patients who carry “undruggable” mutations, i.e. insensitive to potentiators and correctors. We focus on two proteins: TMEM16A, a second type of chloride channel, and ATP12A, a proton pump. Pharmacological activation of TMEM16A could overcome defective anion secretion in CF. While pharmacological inhibition of ATP12A could prevent the acidification that occurs in CF airways.
Luis Galietta is the head of two TIGEM Units:
Cell Culture and Cytogenetics, providing fully-equipped cell culture facilities and technical support for cellular and cytogenetic studies to TIGEM investigators
Electrophysiology measuring iron currents in cell cultures.
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My research is dedicated to understanding the mechanisms underlying ion transport in epithelial cells. We use high-throughput screening techniques to identify drugs to treat cystic fibrosis by targeting membrane channels and pumps.
Additional Funding
- CFF, CYSTIC FIBROSIS FOUNDATION - Impact of CFTR deficiency and inflammation on SARS-CoV-2 infection (2021-2023)
- ECFS, EUROPEAN CYSTIC FIBROSIS SOCIETY - Identification of novel NMD modulators to rescue nonsense mutations in cystic fibrosis (2022-2024)
- MSS, Italian ministry of health - Therapeutic approaches for cystic fibrosis patients with rare mutations (2020-2024)