CFTR Modulates Acute Lung Injury: Evidence from A Genetic Association Study

Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is a well-known component since it was found that some specific mutations of CFTR gene can cause cystic fibrosis and congenital bilateral absence of vas deferens (1, 2). Interestingly, more and more studies demonstrate that CFTR also modulates acute lung injury (ALI) (3-8), a devastating inflammatory lung syndrome characterized by diffuse alveolar infiltration, hypoxemia, respiratory failure and even death due to multiorgan dysfunction. Every year in the USA alone there are 150,000-200,000 ALI cases with 34 to 58% mortality (9).