The Biologic Activities of Cystic Fibrosis Serum. I. The Effects of Cystic Fibrosis Sera and Calcium Ionophore A 23187 on Rabbit Tracheal Explants

Abstract

Summary: An ionophore A23187-induced increase in membrane permeability to calcium ions in culture medium produced a rabbit tracheal mucociliary response indistinguishable from that caused by cystic fibrosis (CF) sera on three different occasions. Specific chelation of calcium ions with EGTA in the basal medium Eagle (BME) media with no additive or in native CF sera abolished the mucociliary disturbances in all cases. Increased membrane permeability to calcium may be important in the production of the mucociliary response by CF serum factor(s) in the tracheal assay system. Speculation: CF serum factor(s) may be acting on the cultured rabbit tracheal explant cellular membranes to produce altered permeability to ions. This alteration in membrane permeability may be promoting a loss of intracellular communication and cellular injury. Such changes on the cellular level may be related to the pathophysiology of this genetic disorder.