Regulation of the Coxsackie and Adenovirus Receptor Expression is Dependent on CFTR in Airway Epithelial Cells

Summary The coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor (CAR), in addition to serving as viral receptor, is a component of tight junctions and plays an important role in tissue homeostasis. Defects in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR) in lung epithelial cells are linked to inflammation and susceptibility for respiratory tract infections. Here we demonstrate that CAR expression and infectivity with adenovirus (Ad) are increased in cystic fibrosis (CF) airway epithelial cells. Inhibition of CFTR or histone deacetylase (HDAC) enhanced CAR expression while CFTR overexpression or restoration of the diminished HDAC activity in CF cells reduced CAR expression. This connects the CFTR to CAR expression and infectivity with Ad through HDAC.