Electrolyte redistribution in cystic fibrosis fibroblasts studied by electron probe X-ray microanalysis.

The elemental composition of fibroblasts from cystic fibrosis (CF) patients and from healthy controls was compared by means of electron probe X-ray micro-analysis. Significantly lower sodium levels (p < .01) and higher calcium levels (p < .02) were found in CF fibroblasts, indicating a disturbance of ion regulation in these cells. Treatment with Staphylococcus aureus protein A and gammaglobulin (proteins that may influence the ciliotoxic CF factor) did not change the elemental composition of the fibroblasts.