REDUCTION IN VISCOSITY OF CYSTIC-FIBROSIS SPUTUM IN-VITRO BY GELSOLIN

Obstruction of airways by viscous sputum causes lung damage in patient s with cystic fibrosis (CF). Sputum samples from OF patients were show n to contain filamentous actin. Human plasma gelsolin, a protein that severs actin filaments, rapidly decreased the viscosity of CF sputum s amples in vitro. Gc globulin and deoxyribonuclease I, proteins that se quester monomeric actin but do not sever actin filaments, were less ef ficient than gelsolin in diminishing sputum viscosity. These results s uggest that gelsolin may have therapeutic potential as a mucolytic age nt in CF patients.