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Inhibition of Ouabain-sensitive ATPase by the Saliva of Patients with Cystic Fibrosis of the Pancreas

A study has been made of the effect of saliva from children with cystic fibrosis of the pancreas (CFP) on various components of the ATP hydrolyzing enzyme system. The ouabain-sensitive ATPase activity of erythrocyte membranes prepared from intact erythrocytes preincubated with CFP saliva was 35 ± 4 nmol Pi/mg dry wt membrane suspension/hr, compared with 48 ± 7 nmol Pi/mg dry wt membrane suspension/hr when the erythrocytes were preincubated with control saliva. A calcium-activated component of ATPase was decreased from 202 ± 30 nmol Pi/mg dry wt membrane suspension/hr in erythrocytes preincubated with control saliva, to 151 ± 17 nmol Pi/mg dry wt membrane suspension/hr when the incubation was carried out with CFP saliva.In a second series of experiments, ultrafiltered saliva was added directly to an ATPase assay. The saliva from children with CFP brought about a mean decrease in ouabain-sensitive ATPase of 16% compared with control saliva.Speculation: Inhibition of active cation transport at various sites in the body is one of the hallmarks of CFP. Electrolyte abnormalities in the saliva of patients with CFP may result from the action of an ATPase inhibitory factor in the saliva which inhibits various components of ATPase in the ducts of the salivary glands. Such a factor could be similar or identical with the ciliotoxic factor identified by other investigators in the serum and saliva of patients with CFP.