Understanding Cystic Fibrosis
Blog written by Alyza Kour - Reasearch Lead of Teen Med Spot Mucus in our body is more than just “gross stuff” coming out our nose when we have a cold, it’s actually a vital protective layer. Its job is to line our lungs, digestive tract, and other organs to keep them moist and to trap dust, bacteria, or virusese so your body can get rid of them. Healthy mucus is thin, slippery, and water (Think of it like a layer of liquid soap). ( Cleveland Clinic ) What is cystic fibrosis? It is a genetic disease that causes sticky, thick mucus to build up in your organs (Lungs, Digestive System, Pancreas), blocking and damaging them. ( Cleveland Clinic.org ) What causes cystic fibrosis? Changes to the CFTR gene - called variants or mutations - cause cystic fibrosis. CFTR makes a protein that works as an ion channel on the surface of a cell. Ion channels are like gates in a cell’s membrane that allow certain molecules to pass through. Think of this protein as a “gate” for chloride ions (sa...