Tuesday, April 26, 2016
Abnormally thick and sticky mucus that clogs airways and makes the lungs more vulnerable to persistent, difficult-to-treat bacterial infections is a major problem for people with cystic fibrosis (CF), especially in its more advanced stages.
Understanding why CF mucus is so sticky may suggest ways to more effectively treat the problem.
A recent study by researchers at the University of Iowa’s Pappajohn Biomedical Institute (PBI) suggests that CF patients’ excessively sticky mucus is present from birth, rather than a problem that develops over time. Moreover, the study suggests that this mucus is more viscous in CF patients because a thin layer of liquid that coats our airways is more acidic in those who have the condition.
The gene mutations that cause CF disrupt the function of a protein called the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) channel, which secretes bicarbonate ions into the airway surface liquid. Higher levels of bicarbonate ions reduce the airway surface liquid’s acidity.