Cystic fibrosis: review of investigations of the mucociliary inhibitor.

Recently, we found the cystic fibrosis mucociliary inhibitor in urine from homozygotes 
and heterozygotes, but not from normals. In recent studies we have 
attempted to compare the relative concentrations of CFMI in material from 
homozygotes and heterozygotes. The unites of inhibition which reflect the concentration 
of the CFMI in serum and tissue culture medium fractions from 
heterozygotes is close to one-half of that in fractions from homozygous 
sources. With purification of the CFMI and the generation of a 
monospecific antibody preparation, answers will become available to the questions of 
whether or not there is a normal counterpart to the CFMI 
and whether or not quantitation of the CFMI will be useful 
in heterozygote detection and prenatal diagnosis of cystic fibrosis. 