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The cystic fibrosis defect approached from different angles — new perspectives on the gene, the chloride channel, diagnosis and therapy

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Abstract

The search for the basic defect in cystic fibrosis (CF) has reached a decisive stage since the recent identification of the responsible gene. Electrophysiological and biochemical research had defined the CF defect as a dysregulation of epithelial chloride channels. The putative protein product of the now identified gene shares properties with other known transport proteins, but it is not necessarily itself a chloride channel protein. Elucidation of the primary cellular defect will certainly have important aetiological and hopefully therapeutic implications. The identification of the major gene mutation already has significant consequences for genetic counselling and prenatal diagnosis. Heterozygote detection at the population level awaits identification of the probably heterogenous mutations on about 30% of the CF chromosomes. At present, about 50% of CF patients are homozygous for the recently identified major CF mutation.

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Abbreviations

ATP:

adenosine triphosphate

cAMP:

cyclic adenosine monophosphate

CF:

cystic fibrosis

CFTR:

cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator

cGMP:

cyclic guanosine monophosphate

DAG:

diacylglycerol

MDR:

multidrug resistance

PK-A:

cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase

PK-C:

protein kinase C

PK-G:

cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University, P.O.Box 1738, 3000 DR, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    D. J. J. Halley & M. F. Niermeijer

  2. Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Erasmus University, P.O. Box 1738, 3000 DR, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    J. Bijman

  3. Department of Biochemistry I, Erasmus University, P.O. Box 1738, 3000 DR, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    H. R. de Jonge

  4. Sophia Children's Hospital, P.O. Box 70029, 3000 LL, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    M. Sinaasappel & H. J. Neijens

Authors
  1. D. J. J. Halley
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  2. J. Bijman
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  3. H. R. de Jonge
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  4. M. Sinaasappel
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  5. H. J. Neijens
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  6. M. F. Niermeijer
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Additional information

Corresponding article on clinical aspects of cystic fibrosis by Neijens et al. will be published in the next issue of this journal, vol. 149, pp. 742–751 (1990)

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Halley, D.J.J., Bijman, J., de Jonge, H.R. et al. The cystic fibrosis defect approached from different angles — new perspectives on the gene, the chloride channel, diagnosis and therapy. Eur J Pediatr 149, 670–677 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01959519

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