A team of UC San Francisco researchers have found why mucus in the lungs of cystic fibrosis patients thickens, which makes them more vulnerable to lung infection.
The research team found that in CF – contrary to previous belief – inflammation causes new molecular bonds to form within mucus, transforming it from a liquid to an elastic sludge.
The scientists also made headway in the lab in exploring a potential new therapeutic approach to dissolve those bonds and return the mucus to a liquid that is easier for the lungs to clear.
