Serum binding of calcium and the red cell membrane in cystic fibrosis.

Abstract

THERE is evidence for a factor in the serum of cystic fibrosis patients which may play a role in the pathological manifestation of the genetic syndrome: serum of patients with cystic fibrosis alters the cilia movement of rabbit trachea in vitro1 and of oyster cilia2. This activity is apparently associated with the immunoglobulin fraction3,4. Balfe et al.5 reported a modification of sodium flux in red cells obtained from patients with cystic fibrosis. In the course of searching for evidence of interaction of serum with red cells in cystic fibrosis, we found that there is a substantial increase in serum calcium binding in patients with cystic fibrosis. This seems to be associated with a modified membrane protein electrophoretic pattern of cystic fibrosis red cells in specified experimental conditions.