Defects in immune cells leave cystic fibrosis patients vulnerable to deadly infections, even with the best treatments.
Researchers at the University of Queensland have identified multiple defects in macrophages from people with cystic fibrosis (CF) that increase vulnerability to infection, even in those taking the most effective CF drug treatment available.
Macrophages are white blood cells that fight infection by engulfing bacteria and pathogens, such as mycobacterium abscessus (MABS). MABS is a leading cause of death for people with CF, is resistant to many antibiotics, and its infections are increasing at alarming rates.
Key immune cells remain compromised. The study reveals that the underlying cellular defects in CF patients persist, preventing macrophages from effectively clearing MABS infections despite the use of modern therapies.
This ongoing vulnerability highlights a critical gap in current treatment strategies, underscoring the need for new approaches to restore full immune function in CF patients.