LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Cystic Fibrosis: Cells
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The lungs of individuals with cystic fibrosis are colonized and infected by bacteria from an early age. These bacteria, which often spread amongst individuals with CF, thrive in the altered mucus, which collects in the small airways of the lungs. This mucus encourages the development of bacterial microenvironments (biofilms) that are difficult for immune cells (and antibiotics) to penetrate. The lungs respond to repeated damage by thick secretions and chronic infections by gradually remodeling the lower airways (bronchiectasis), making infection even more difficult to eradicate.[25]
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Single-channel patch-clamp techniques were used to study the population of apical membrane ion channels in cultured sweat gland secretory cells from normal and cystic fibrosis subjects. Four types of anion channels and two types of cation channels were found. At physiological voltages, anion channels had chord conductances of 10, 18, 24, and greater than 200 pS. All had linear current-voltage relations except the 24 pS channel, which showed outward rectification. Cation channels had chord conductances of 5 and 18 pS, were linear, and were nonselective for a variety of cations. Channel types and proportions were equivalent in control, cystic fibrosis, and cystic fibrosis heterozygote cells. Beyond showing that the distribution of channel types remains unchanged in cystic fibrosis cells, the data provide a basis for comparison with cells cultured under different conditions, with other cell types, and with native tissues.
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"For the longest time, the development of diabetes in cystic fibrosis has been thought to be chronic destruction of pancreas, so eventually you get loss of the insulin-producing beta cells," said Michael Stalvey, M.D., an assistant professor of pediatrics at UF. "Our study provides some early evidence to suggest there is an inherent difference in beta cell function."
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