It is often challenging for the clinician interested in cystic fibrosis (CF) to interpret molecular genetic results, and to integrate them in the diagnostic process. The limitations of genotyping technology, the choice of mutations to be tested, and the clinical context in which the test is administered can all influence how genetic information is interpreted. This paper describes the conclusions of a consensus conference to address the use and interpretation of CF mutation analysis in clinical settings. Although the diagnosis of CF is usually straightforward, care needs to be exercised in the use and interpretation of genetic tests: genotype information is not the final arbiter of a clinical diagnosis of CF or CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein related disorders. The diagnosis of these conditions is primarily based on the clinical presentation, and is supported by evaluation of CFTR function (sweat testing, nasal potential difference) and genetic analysis. None of these features are sufficient on their own to make a diagnosis of CF or CFTR-related disorders. Broad genotype/phenotype associations are useful in epidemiological studies, but CFTR genotype does not accurately predict individual outcome. The use of CFTR genotype for prediction of prognosis in people with CF at the time of their diagnosis is not recommended. The importance of communication between clinicians and medical genetic laboratories is emphasized. The results of testing and their implications should be reported in a manner understandable to the clinicians caring for CF patients.

Mutations of the CFTR gene and the 5T genotype are associated with chronic pancreatitis.

Abscisic acid (ABA) regulates vital physiological responses, and a number of events in the ABA signaling cascade remain t o be identified. To allow quantitative analysis of genetic signaling mutants, patch-clamp experiments were developed and performed with the previously inaccessible Arabidopsis guard cells from the wild type and ABA-insensitive (abi) mutants. Slow anion channels have been proposed t o play a rate-limiting role in ABA-induced stomatal closing. We now directly demonstrate that ABA strongly activates slow anion channels in wild-type guard cells. Furthermore, ABA-induced anion channel activation and stomatal closing were suppressed by protein phosphatase inhibitors. In abil-7 and abi2-7 mutant guard cells, ABA activation of slow anion channels and ABA-induced stomatal closing were abolished. These impairments in ABA signaling were partially rescued by kinase inhibitors in abil but not in abi2 guard cells. These data provide cell biological evidence that the abi2 locus disrupts early ABA signaling, that abil and abi2 affect ABA signaling at different steps in the cascade, and that protein kinases act as negative regulators of ABA signaling in Arabidopsis. New models for ABA signaling pathways and roles for abil, abi2, and protein kinases and phosphatases are discussed.

Several diseases have been clinically or genetically related to cystic fibrosis (CF), but a consensus definition is lacking. Here, we present a proposal for consensus guidelines on cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR)-related disorders (CFTR-RDs), reached after expert discussion and two dedicated workshops. A CFTR-RD may be defined as "a clinical entity associated with CFTR dysfunction that does not fulfil diagnostic criteria for CF". The utility of sweat testing, mutation analysis, nasal potential difference, and/or intestinal current measurement for the differential diagnosis of CF and CFTR-RD is discussed. Algorithms which use genetic and functional diagnostic tests to distinguish CF and CFTR-RDs are presented. According to present knowledge, congenital bilateral absence of vas deferens (CBAVD), acute recurrent or chronic pancreatitis and disseminated bronchiectasis, all with CFTR dysfunction, are CFTR-RDs.

delta F508 is the most frequent cystic fibrosis (CF) mutation and accounts for approximately 70% of CF chromosomes worldwide. Three highly polymorphic microsatellite markers have been used to study the origin and evolution of delta F508 chromosomes in Europe. Haplotype data demonstrate that delta F508 occurred more than 52,000 years ago, in a population genetically distinct from any present European group, and spread throughout Europe in chronologically distinct expansions, which are responsible for the different frequencies of delta F508 in Europe.