Ok i get this mailing list, and i got this article about a study they were doing involving surfactants derived from animals (I think surfactants are chemicals people produce that clean out their lungs), and their affect on cf'ish lungs. It looks pretty promising, but it's just the starting of their investigation. HOWEVER, it is something they have used on people before, like babies etc that do not produce enough, so we know it's safe. Perhaps we can ask about something like calfactant?
Severe impairment of mucociliary transport (MCT) is a hallmark of
cystic
fibrosis (CF) lung disease. Recent studies demonstrate that
pharmacologic
inhibition of anion and liquid secretion in pig tracheas models the MCT
defect in CF through depletion of the periciliary fluid component of
airway
surface liquid. In the present study, the effectiveness of various
aqueous
instillates on rehydration of the airway surface and restoration of MCT
was
assessed in this model. Excised porcine tracheas were mounted in a
chamber
that permitted simultaneous measurement of MCT and adventitial exposure
of
the airways to Krebs solution. When anion and liquid secretion were
inhibited by treatment with bumetanide and dimethylamiloride, MCT was
greatly reduced. Luminal instillation of aqueous solutions containing
surface-active substances (1% Tween80 or calfactant) transiently
restored
MCT to high rates in nearly all tissues. Mucosal treatment with only
Krebs
solution or hypertonic saline restored MCT in only one half of the
tracheas.
We conclude that aqueous salt solutions alone can hydrate airway
surfaces
and restore MCT in some tissues, but surface-active substances may
provide
additional benefit in restoring MCT in this model of mucociliary
stasis. We
speculate that administration of surface-active substances, by aerosol
or
lavage, might help to restore MCT in the airways of patients with CF.
Severe impairment of mucociliary transport (MCT) is a hallmark of
cystic
fibrosis (CF) lung disease. Recent studies demonstrate that
pharmacologic
inhibition of anion and liquid secretion in pig tracheas models the MCT
defect in CF through depletion of the periciliary fluid component of
airway
surface liquid. In the present study, the effectiveness of various
aqueous
instillates on rehydration of the airway surface and restoration of MCT
was
assessed in this model. Excised porcine tracheas were mounted in a
chamber
that permitted simultaneous measurement of MCT and adventitial exposure
of
the airways to Krebs solution. When anion and liquid secretion were
inhibited by treatment with bumetanide and dimethylamiloride, MCT was
greatly reduced. Luminal instillation of aqueous solutions containing
surface-active substances (1% Tween80 or calfactant) transiently
restored
MCT to high rates in nearly all tissues. Mucosal treatment with only
Krebs
solution or hypertonic saline restored MCT in only one half of the
tracheas.
We conclude that aqueous salt solutions alone can hydrate airway
surfaces
and restore MCT in some tissues, but surface-active substances may
provide
additional benefit in restoring MCT in this model of mucociliary
stasis. We
speculate that administration of surface-active substances, by aerosol
or
lavage, might help to restore MCT in the airways of patients with CF.