Interplay between inhibitory ferric and stimulatory curcumin regulates phosphorylation-dependent human cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator and ΔF508 activity.

Curcumin potentiates cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) activation in an ATP-independent but phosphorylation-dependent manner. The underlying molecular mechanisms are unclear. Here, HEK-293T cells cultured in an Fe(3+)-containing medium were transiently transfected with CFTR constructs, and the role of the inhibitory Fe(3+) bridge between intracellular loop 3 and the regulatory domain of CFTR in this pathway was investigated. The results showed that ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) stimulated phosphorylation-dependent CFTR activation and the stimulation was suppressed by the deletion of the regulatory domain or the insertion of a C832A mutation that removes the Fe(3+)-binding interface. Furthermore, curcumin potentiation of CFTR was significantly weakened not only by Fe(3+)-insensitive mutations at the interface between the regulatory domain and intracellular loop 3 but also by N-ethylmaleimide or EDTA pretreatment that removes Fe(3+). More importantly, potentiation of CFTR was completely suppressed by sufficient Fe(3+). Finally, the insertion of Fe(3+)-insensitive H950R/S768R increased the curcumin-independent activity of ΔF508 but weakened its curcumin potentiation. Thus, Fe(3+) homeostasis in epithelia may play a critical role in regulating CFTR activity, and targeting Fe(3+)-chelating potentiators may direct new therapies for cystic fibrosis.