The pancreas consists of exocrine and endocrine compartments. In the exocrine pancreas, cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) functions mainly in ductal epithelial cells as a chloride and bicarbonate channel. Its activity depends on proper protein folding, trafficking, and localization to the apical membrane. This systematic narrative review aims to synthesize the available evidence on the role of protein sorting machinery in CFTR channelopathies and its contribution to exocrine pancreatic dysfunction. A thorough search was conducted using PRISMA criteria on PubMed, Wiley Online Library, and Scopus for studies published in English between January 2000 and November 2025. Twenty studies that met the inclusion criteria were included in this review. Pathogenic CFTR variants impair protein folding, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) exit, and endosomal recycling, resulting in reduced apical membrane expression and stability. These defects disrupt the localization of associated transporters and secretory proteins, impair ductal bicarbonate secretion, alter zymogen handling, and promote acinar injury, although these claims are supported mainly by indirect experimental models and therefore require clinical confirmation. CFTR channelopathies in the exocrine pancreas encompass both ion transport defects and broader disruptions of protein sorting machinery. CFTR may contribute to the assembly, stabilization, or localization of selected apical transport complexes, and its loss can secondarily alter epithelial organization. Therapeutic approaches targeting both channel correction and intracellular trafficking may improve pancreatic function and mitigate disease progression.
Aime Patrick Niyomugabo, Leopold Ntakirutimana, A. Alagbonsi· Channels· 0 citations
Aims: Current diabetes mellitus (DM) prevention and treatment strategies rely on risk factors adapted from developed countries, which may not be effective in most poor sub-Saharan Africa settings. This study investigated the association between diabetic treatment outcomes and complications with sociodemographic and diabetic risk factors among type 2 DM (T2DM) patients in Rwanda. Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed the records of T2DM patients who accessed care at Kigali University Teaching Hospital (CHUK) between January and December 2020, using a non-random sampling technique. Treatment outcomes (improved or not improved based on glycemic control target) and complication outcomes (presence or absence of DM-related microvascular and macrovascular events) were the primary outcome variables. Data were analyzed using t -tests, chi-square tests, and multivariable analyses as appropriate. Results: After adjusting for confounders, only age remained significantly associated with treatment and complication outcomes. The adjusted prevalence ratio (PR) of treatment outcomes for patients aged <50 years was 1.43 (95% CI 1.07–1.92; p = 0.016) and for those aged 50–64 years was 1.12 (95% CI 0.83–1.52; p = 0.462), both relative to the ≥65 years reference category. The adjusted PR for complication outcomes was 0.59 (95% CI 0.40–0.86; p = 0.005) for patients aged <50 years and 0.72 (95% CI 0.57–0.91; p = 0.007) for those aged 50–64 years, compared with the ≥65 years reference category. The adjusted PRs for smoking, alcohol consumption, pharmacological therapy, non-pharmacological therapy, and diet were attenuated and no longer statistically significant (all p > 0.05). Conclusion: The outcomes of diabetic treatment in Rwanda are associated with the age of the patients, rather than the type of therapy or the assessed sociodemographic and risk factors. The causal interpretation and generalizability of this study are limited by its cross-sectional design, non-random sampling, and the single-center setting.
A. Alagbonsi, Aime P. N. Kagina, Denyse Ingabire et al.· Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome...· 0 citations
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