From CFTR to a CF signalling network: a systems biology approach to study Cystic Fibrosis

Background Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a monogenic disease caused by mutations in the gene coding the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Regulator (CFTR) protein, but its overall physio-pathology cannot be solely explained by the loss of the CFTR chloride channel function. Indeed, CFTR belongs to a yet not fully deciphered network of proteins participating in various signalling pathways. Methods We propose a systems biology approach to study how the absence of the CFTR protein at the membrane leads to perturbation of these pathways, resulting in a panel of deleterious CF cellular phenotypes. Results Based on publicly available transcriptomic datasets, we built and analyzed a CF network that recapitulates signalling dysregulations. The CF network topology and its resulting phenotype was found to be consistent with CF pathology. Conclusion Analysis of the network topology highlighted a few proteins that may initiate the propagation of dysregulations, those that trigger CF cellular phenotypes, and suggested several candidate therapeutic targets. Although our research is focused on CF, the global approach proposed in the present paper could also be followed to study other rare monogenic diseases.