Relevance of cyclic nucleotides and calcium to cystic fibrosis. pp. 243-58.

The general area of research at the biochemical and molecular levels related 
to cystic fibrosis has suffered from the lack of a suitable 
animal model. Although some animal models have been proposed, these have 
not yet been tested. In attempts to circumvent this problem several 
investigators have turned to cell culture techniques to study various aspects 
of cystic fibrosis. These studies have included the use of red 
blood cells, lymphocytes, skin fibroblasts and cultured nasal polyps. There are 
enough positive indications from this approach to indicate that it might 
be fruitful. Consequently, a final aspect of this article will be 
a consideration of the use of cell cultures for future investigations 
into the possible metabolic lesions in cystic fibrosis. Control of cyclic 
nucleotide levels in parotid, the role of calcium, microfilaments and microtubules 
in secretion, and the use of cell cultures as an approach 
to the study of biochemical defects in cystic fibrosis are discussed. 
