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CFTR: helping to acidify macrophage lysosomes

A new study shows that alveolar macrophages use the cystic fibrosis transmembrane-conductance regulator (CFTR) to maintain lysosomes at low pH and to restrict the growth of ingested bacteria. This may help to explain the persistent infections and chronic inflammation of the lungs that characterize cystic fibrosis.

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Figure 1: CFTR and the microbicidal acid bath of macrophage phagolysosomes.

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Swanson, J. CFTR: helping to acidify macrophage lysosomes. Nat Cell Biol 8, 908–909 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncb0906-908

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