Pathogenesis of cystic fibrosis: possible importance of alteration in epithelial surface topography.

As the pathogenesis in cystic fibrosis (CF) has been considered to lie 
in a disturbance in the behavior of secretions, particularly mucins, from 
exocrine glands, it has been proposed that an alteration in surface 
topography (form, number or distribution of microvilli or blebs) of epithelial 
cells lining ducts could impair distribution leading to retention of mucus 
leading to the clinical phenotype. Scanning electronmicroscopy of human epithelial suspension 
cultures now offers an opportunity to evaluate the role of plasmalemma 
topography in CF. 