The Role Of Osmosis In Cystic Fibrosis
Cystic Fibrosis is a common disease that affects many people. Cystic Fibrosis is known to not have a cure, but treatment is available to ease symptoms. The purpose of this experiment was to show how Cystic Fibrosis affects human cells with a larger representation of actual cells. The experiment contains a representation of a normal cell and a cell with Cystic Fibrosis. The amount of NaCl in each cell is measured by the weight of each dialysis bag representing a semipermeable membrane. It was found that the “cell” with Cystic Fibrosis contains more of the solution within its membrane.
Introduction
There is a very large number of genetic disorders and diseases that are known of. Cystic Fibrosis is one of those genetic diseases that is common. Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic disease that causes reoccurring lung infections and breathing problems. (Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 2019). Cystic Fibrosis occurs in the offspring of two individuals who are carriers of the disease. Mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene cause the CFTR protein to not function properly (Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 2019). The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation also states that when the CFTR protein is not functioning properly, cells cannot move chlorine to its surface. That occurrence causes mucus surrounding the cells to become thick.
Lexico states that osmosis is the process where molecules of a solvent pass through a semipermeable membrane from an area of low concentration to an area of high concentration. Osmosis is a process that can be observed in many different situations. In this report we will explore the role of osmosis in Cystic Fibrosis. A representation of cells using dialysis tubing will allow insight on how a “normal cell” functions versus a “Cystic Fibrosis cell. ” Our hypothesis is that if the CFTR protein is not functioning properly, then osmosis cannot regulate the mucus build up in individuals with Cystic Fibrosis.
Methods and Materials
Two 250mL beakers were used to represent a “normal cell” and a “cystic fibrosis cell. ” Each beaker had 150mL of a 150 millimolar (mM) NaCl solution. The NaCl solution replicated the normal saline concentration in the body (Walsh and Wostl, 2019). Two 20cm dialysis tubing were also used to represent the semipermeable membrane. One of the dialysis tubing was filled with approximately 10mL of the normal saline concentration solution. That tube represented the normal concentration of chlorine ions in a human cell (Walsh and Wostl, 2019). That tube was then submerged into the beaker labeled “normal cell. ” The second dialysis tubing was filled with the provided solution 4M NaCl. The tube was submerged into the beaker labeled “cystic fibrosis cell. ” The weight of both bags was taken before they were submerged into the beakers. The bags were taken out of the beakers every 3 minutes for a total of 15 minutes to measure the weight of the bag each time.
Results
Results showed that there was an increase in mass for both dialysis bags at the end of the 15 minutes. The dialysis tube in the “Cystic Fibrosis cell” showed a larger increase in mass compared to the dialysis bag in the “normal cell. ” After collecting all the weight samples for the dialysis bags, the change in mass(g) for both bags were calculated next. In order to find the change in mass, the following formula provided in the lab manual was used: Change in Mass = Mass(t+3) – Mass(t) Mass(t+3) referred to the weight at the present time interval and Mass(t) referred to the weight at the previous time interval (Walsh and Wostl). Once the change in mass was recorded, the percent change in mass was calculated next. To find the percent change in mass, the following formula provided in the lab manual was used: Percent Change = (Mass(t+3) – Mass(t) / Mass(t)) * 100
Discussion
The change in the mass of both dialysis bags occurred through the process of osmosis. The NaCl solution in the beakers began to flow into the dialysis “membrane” at certain rates because of the amount of concentration in each bag. The cell in an individual with Cystic Fibrosis experience a higher concentration of NaCl because the protein that would regulate the chlorine is not functional. The process of osmosis occurs and there is nothing to prevent the solution to move from a lower concentration to a higher concentration. The cell then cannot expel what is not needed properly, causing a think layer of buildup outside the cell. That buildup is what causes infections to become prevalent, especially in the lungs where there is already a layer of mucus.
The continuous increase in mass of the “Cystic Fibrosis cell” shows that the NaCl solution would only move into the cell. The cell couldn’t push out any of the solution back out. Since the discovery of the lack of the CFTR protein in individuals with Cystic Fibrosis, there have been many methods to manually disposing of the excess mucus layer. The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation shows several different processes in which and individual can expel the mucus out of their lungs. One example is the Active Cycle of Breathing Technique (ACBT). This procedure consists of different styles of breathing that help clear up the lungs of mucus in three different steps. Another procedure is Autogenic Drainage (AD). This procedure uses a variety of breathing speeds to move the mucus. Studies and experiments for the treatment of Cystic Fibrosis are plentiful. Advances in etiological therapy for Cystic Fibrosis aim to repair the CFTR protein function by using modulators (Villella et al. 2019). Cystic Fibrosis is a serious illness but advances in medicine and further experimentation of the disease will help in the progress made to help treat it better or possibly cure it.
Literature Cited
- About Cystic Fibrosis. CF Foundation. [accessed 2019 Oct 15]. https://www. cff. org/What-is-CF/About- Cystic-Fibrosis/
- Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Airway Clearance. CF Foundation. [accessed 2019 Oct 16]. https://www. cff. org/Life-With-CF/Treatments-and-Therapies/Airway-Clearance/
- Libretexts. 5. 2E: Osmosis. Biology LibreTexts. 2019 Jun 5 [accessed 2019 Oct 15]. https://bio. libretexts. org/Bookshelves/Introductory_and_General_Biology/Book:_General_Biolo gy_(Boundless)/5:_Structure_and_Function_of_Plasma_Membranes/5. 2:_Passive_Transport/5. 2E:_Osmosis
- Oxford University Press. Osmosis: Definition of Osmosis by Lexico. Lexico Dictionaries | English. [accessed 2019 Oct 14]. https://www. lexico. com/en/definition/osmosis
- Villella VR, Tosco A, Esposito S, Bona G, Raia V, Maiuri L. Minerva Pediatrica 2019 June;71(3):287-96. Mutation-specific therapies and drug repositioning in cystic fibrosis - Minerva Pediatrica 2019 June;71(3):287-96 - Minerva Medica - Journals. [accessed 2019 Oct 16]. https://www. minervamedica. it/en/journals/minerva- pediatrica/article. php?cod=R15Y2019N03A0287
