Electrolyte Redistribution in Cystic Fibrosis Fibroblasts Studied by Electron Probe Xray Microanalysis

Abstract

The elemental composition of fibroblasts from cystic fibrosis (CF) patients and from healthy controls was compared by means of electron probe X-ray micro-analysis. Significantly lower sodium levels (p < .01) and higher calcium levels (p < .02) were found in CF fibroblasts, indicating a disturbance of ion regulation in these cells. Treatment with Staphylococcus aureus protein A and gammaglobulin (proteins that may influence the ciliotoxic CF factor) did not change the elemental composition of the fibroblasts.