Cystic fibrosis (CF), is an autosomal recessive disease frequently seen in the Caucasian population. It is caused by mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. CF is characterized by enhanced airway Na⁺ absorption, mediated by epithelial Na⁺ channels (ENaC), and deficient Cl⁻ transport. In addition, other mechanisms may contribute to the pathophysiological changes in the CF lung, such as defective regulation of HCO₃ ⁻ secretion. In other epithelial tissues, epithelial Na⁺ conductance is either increased (intestine) or decreased (sweat duct) in CF. CFTR is a cyclic AMP-regulated epithelial Cl⁻ channel, and appears to control the activity of several other transport proteins. Accordingly, defective epithelial ion transport in CF is likely to be a combination of defective Cl⁻ channel function and impaired regulator function of CFTR, which in turn is linked to impaired mucociliary clearance and development of chronic lung disease. As the clinical course of CF is determined primarily by progressive lung disease, novel pharmacological strategies for the treatment of CF focus on correction of the ion transport defect in the airways.

In recent years, it has been demonstrated that activation of purinergic receptors in airway epithelia by extracellular nucleotides (adenosine triphosphate/uridine triphosphate) has beneficial effects on mucus clearance in CF. Activation of the dominant class of metabotropic purinergic receptors, P2Y₂ receptors, appears to have a 2-fold benefit on ion transport in CF airways; excessive Na⁺ absorption is attenuated, most likely by inhibition of the ENaC and, simultaneously, an alternative Ca²⁺-dependent Cl⁻ channel is activated that may compensate for the CFTR Cl⁻ channel defect. Thus activation of P2Y₂ receptors is expected to lead to improved hydration of the airway surface liquid in CF. Furthermore, purinergic activation has been shown to promote other components of mucociliary clearance such as ciliary beat frequency and mucus secretion. Clinical trials are under way to test the effect of synthetic purinergic compounds, such as the P2Y₂ receptor agonist INS37217, on the progression of lung disease in patients with CF. Administration of these compounds alone, or in combination with other drugs that inhibit accelerated Na⁺ transport and help recover or increase residual activity of mutant CFTR, is most promising as successful therapy to counteract the ion transport defect in the airways of CF patients.