[Are there mucoviscidosis specific humoral factors? 1: Properties, prevalence, preparation, formation]

In 1967 Spock et al. reported on the serum of cystic fibrosis (CF) homozygotes containing a factor altering the coordination of ciliary motion in rabbit tracheal explants. Just in 1967 Mangos et al. found sweat and saliva from CF homozygotes having an inhibitory effect on sodium reabsorption in the rat parotid gland. Since that time the existence of CF specific humoral factors was supposed. Hitherto mainly biological tests (especially tests of ciliary dyskinesia) were used to prove these factors. These tests caused different results which even were doubtful with regard to the existence of CF specific proteins. Recently it is possible to differentiate between proteins with effects of ciliary dyskinesia and a CF specific protein by means of high sensitive biochemical and immunological methods of protein distinction. In future one can expect elucidation of question related to the importance of CF protein in pathogenesis and diagnosis of cystic fibrosis.