AUTHOR=Qiu Zhuo-Er , Xu Jian-Bang , Chen Lei , Huang Ze-Xin , Lei Tian-Lun , Huang Zi-Yang , Hou Xiao-Chun , Yang Hai-Long , Lin Qin-Hua , Zhu Yun-Xin , Zhao Lei , Zhou Wen-Liang , Zhang Yi-Lin TITLE=Allicin Facilitates Airway Surface Liquid Hydration by Activation of CFTR JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pharmacology VOLUME=13 YEAR=2022 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2022.890284 DOI=10.3389/fphar.2022.890284 ISSN=1663-9812 ABSTRACT=

Airway epithelium plays critical roles in regulating airway surface liquid (ASL), the alteration of which causes mucus stasis symptoms. Allicin is a compound released from garlic and harbors the capacity of lung-protection. However, the potential regulatory effects of allicin on airway epithelium remain elusive. This study aimed to investigate the effects of allicin on ion transport across airway epithelium and evaluate its potential as an expectorant. Application of allicin induced Cl− secretion across airway epithelium in a concentration-dependent manner. Blockade of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) or inhibition of adenylate cyclase-cAMP signaling pathway attenuated allicin-induced Cl− secretion in airway epithelial cells. The in vivo study showed that inhaled allicin significantly increased the ASL secretion in mice. These results suggest that allicin induces Cl− and fluid secretion across airway epithelium via activation of CFTR, which might provide therapeutic strategies for the treatment of chronic pulmonary diseases associated with ASL dehydration.