In people suffering from cystic fibrosis, why does the shape of the palisade cells retain chloride ions and then stop water being released? Is it something to do with channel protein systems?

gmackematix

??? I'm confused. I have heard of palisade cells in plant leaves but where are they in humans? Jun 18 05, 7:56 AM

lanfranco

Well, here's a site on CF, which does not seem to mention palisade cells but does discuss the accumulation of chloride ions in epithelial cells (in the lungs) owing to an abnormal form of a protein called CFTR. Water follows these ions, resulting in water depletion elsewhere and therefore viscous mucus developing on the alveoli -- the air cells. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cystic_fibrosis Jun 18 05, 3:46 PM

gmackematix

So it is not so much the shape of the cells that causes ion retention but defects in the CFTR protein. Jun 19 05, 7:11 AM

Flynn_17

I didn't mean palisade cells. Not sure where my head was at, I mean epithelial cells. But why exactly are the ions retained? Jun 19 05, 9:14 AM

gmackematix

Hope this helps to explain: http://www.schoolscience.co.uk/content/5/biology/mrc/3/page3.html Jun 19 05, 4:36 PM