Partially differentiated ileal and distal-colonic human F508del-cystic fibrosis-enteroids secrete fluid in response to forskolin and linaclotide

Constipation causes significant morbidity in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Using CF patient (F508del) derived <i>ex vivo</i> ileal and distal colonic/rectal enteroids as a model and the Forskolin Induced Swelling Assay (FIS), we compared CFTR mediated fluid secretion in human enterocytes across the crypt-villus axis. CFTR expression and FIS decreased as enterocytes differentiated from crypt to become partially differentiated and then mature villus cells. While there was no FIS response in undifferentiated (crypt enterocytes) F508del-CF enteroids, partially differentiated F508del-CF enteroids had a swelling response to forskolin (cAMP) and linaclotide (cGMP), which was ∼48%, and ∼67% of the response in healthy enteroids, respectively, and was prevented by a CFTR inhibitor. Also, linaclotide and a general phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitor independently enhanced the combined CFTR-modulator-induced FIS response from partially differentiated F508del-CF enteroids. These findings demonstrate that partially differentiated ileal and distal colonic F508del-CFTR enteroids can be stimulated to secrete fluid by cAMP and cGMP.