Paracellular bicarbonate flux across human cystic fibrosis airway epithelia tempers changes in airway surface liquid pH

Key points Cl− and HCO3− had similar paracellular permeabilities in human airway epithelia. PCl/PNa of airway epithelia was unaltered by pH 7.4 vs. pH 6.0 solutions. Under basal conditions, calculated paracellular HCO3− flux was secretory. Cytokines that increased airway surface liquid pH decreased or reversed paracellular HCO3− flux. HCO3− flux through the paracellular pathway may counterbalance effects of cellular H+ and HCO3− secretion. Airway epithelia control the pH of airway surface liquid (ASL), thereby optimizing respiratory defences. Active H+ and HCO3− secretion by airway epithelial cells produce an ASL that is acidic compared with the interstitial space. The paracellular pathway could provide a route for passive HCO3− flux that also modifies ASL pH. However, there is limited information about paracellular HCO3− flux, and it remains uncertain whether an acidic pH produced by loss of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator anion channels or proinflammatory cytokines might alter the paracellular pathway function. To investigate paracellular HCO3− transport, we studied differentiated primary cultures of human cystic fibrosis (CF) and non‐CF airway epithelia. The paracellular pathway was pH‐insensitive at pH 6.0 vs. pH 7.4 and was equally permeable to Cl− and HCO3−. Under basal conditions at pH ∼6.6, calculated paracellular HCO3− flux was weakly secretory. Treating epithelia with IL‐17 plus TNFα alkalinized ASL pH to ∼7.0, increased paracellular HCO3− permeability, and paracellular HCO3− flux was negligible. Applying IL‐13 increased ASL pH to ∼7.4 without altering paracellular HCO3− permeability, and calculated paracellular HCO3− flux was absorptive. These results suggest that HCO3− flux through the paracellular pathway counterbalances, in part, changes in the ASL pH produced via cellular mechanisms. As the pH of ASL increases towards that of basolateral liquid, paracellular HCO3− flux becomes absorptive, tempering the alkaline pH generated by transcellular HCO3− secretion. Key points Cl− and HCO3− had similar paracellular permeabilities in human airway epithelia. PCl/PNa of airway epithelia was unaltered by pH 7.4 vs. pH 6.0 solutions. Under basal conditions, calculated paracellular HCO3− flux was secretory. Cytokines that increased airway surface liquid pH decreased or reversed paracellular HCO3− flux. HCO3− flux through the paracellular pathway may counterbalance effects of cellular H+ and HCO3− secretion.