Global proteomic approach unmasks involvement of keratins 8 and 18 in the delivery of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR)/deltaF508-CFTR to the plasma membrane

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disease caused by mutations in the CF gene (cftr). Physiologically, CF is characterized by an abnormal chloride secretion in epithelia due to a dysfunction of a mutated cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). CFTR is a cAMP-dependent chloride channel whose most frequent mutation, deltaF508, leads to an aberrantly folded protein which causes a dysfunction of the channel. However, a growing number of reports suggest that modifier genes and environmental factors are involved in the physiology of CF. To identify proteins whose expression depends on wild-type WT-CFTR or deltaF508-CFTR, we chose a global proteomic approach based on the use of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and mass spectrometry. The experiments were carried out with HeLa cells stably transfected with WT-CFTR (pTCFWT) or deltaF508-CFTR (pTCFdeltaF508). These experiments unmasked keratin 8 (K8) and 18 (K18) which were differentially expressed in pTCFWT vs. pTCFdeltaF508. An immunoblot of K18 confirmed the 2-DE results. Intracellular localization experiments of WT-CFTR, deltaF508-CFTR, K8, and K18 suggest that the expression of these proteins are linked, and that the concentrations of K8 and K18 and/or their distribution may be involved in the traffic of WT-CFTR/deltaF508-CFTR. A functional assay for CFTR revealed that specifically lowering K18 expression or changing its distribution leads to the delivery of functional deltaF508-CFTR to the plasma membrane. This work suggests a novel function of K18 in CF.