Tissue culture of epithelial cells from urine. II. Application to patients with cystic fibrosis.

The urine from patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) was screened for the presence of epithelial cells that could be serially propagated in vitro. The urine from two newborn infants with meconium ileus was an excellent source of epithelial cells, and over 400 cultures were initiated in each case. The urine of older CF patients hospitalized for pulmonary complications also yielded cells but in fewer numbers. No cells were obtained from older CF patients without pulmonary complications or from healthy volunteers. Hypoxia may be the factor stimulating cell exfoliation in the urine of sick CF patients and in a larger percentage of newborn infants.