Glucocorticoids and serum and glucocorticoid-inducible kinase 1 are potent regulators of cftr in the native intestine: implications for stress-induced diarrhea

Non-genomic Glucocorticoid (GC) and Serum and Glucocorticoid-inducible kinase 1 (SGK1) signaling regulate ion transport, but CFTR has not been investigated in the intestine. We examined GC, SGK1 and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) kinase signaling of CFTR ion transport in native intestine and the role of GCs on mRNA, protein, surface expression, and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)-elicited diarrhea. Rats were treated with dexamethasone (DEXA 2mg/kg, IP) or DMSO for 1, 4 and 24 h. Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-activated ion transport was examined in the presence or absence of SGK1 and PI3K inhibitors. Phosphorylation of SGK1, phosphoinositide-dependent kinase 1 (PDK1), and AKT kinases was confirmed by immunoblots using phosphor-specific antibodies. Tissue lysates were analyzed by mass spectrometry. CFTR and SGK1 mRNA were measured by qPCR. Changes in total and surface CFTR protein were determined. The role of GC in cGMP-activated CFTR ion transport was examined. GC synergistically increased CFTR ion transport by SGK1 and PI3K signaling and increased CFTR protein without altering SGK1 or CFTR mRNA. GC induced highest levels of CFTR protein at 4h that was associated with a marked increase in surface CFTR, phosphorylation of the ubiquitin ligase neural precursor cell expressed developmentally down-regulated 4-like (Nedd4-2), and 14-3-3 ε supporting their roles in surface retention and stability. Co-immunoprecipitation of CFTR, Nedd4-2 and 14-3-3 e indicated that assembly of this complex is a likely effector of the SGK and AKT pathways. Mass spectrometry identified phosphorylated peptides in relevant proteins. GC-SGK1 potently regulates CFTR in the intestine and is implicated in diarrheal disease.