It Takes Two to Tango! Protein–Protein Interactions behind cAMP-Mediated CFTR Regulation

Abstract

Over the last fifteen years, with the approval of the first molecular treatments, a breakthrough era has begun for patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), the rare genetic disease caused by mutations in the gene encoding the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). These molecules, known as CFTR modulators, have led to unprecedented improvements in the lung function and quality of life of most CF patients. However, the efficacy of these drugs is still suboptimal, and the clinical response is highly variable even among individuals bearing the same mutation. Furthermore, not all patients carrying rare CFTR mutations are eligible for CFTR modulator therapies, indicating the need for alternative and/or add-on therapeutic approaches. Because the second messenger 3′,5′-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) represents the primary trigger for CFTR activation and a major regulator of different steps of the life cycle of the channel, there is growing interest in devising ways to fine-tune the cAMP signaling pathway for therapeutic purposes. This review article summarizes current knowledge regarding the role of cAMP signalosomes, i.e., multiprotein complexes bringing together key enzymes of the cAMP pathway, in the regulation of CFTR function, and discusses how modulating this signaling cascade could be leveraged for therapeutic intervention in CF.