SHEFFIELD, England, Nov. 3 (UPI) -- British researchers say they've found an atypical distribution of proteins at the roots of the deadly disease cystic fibrosis.
The proteins are found in the lungs and airways of people with the disease, said researchers at the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom.
The proteins, uncovered via the human genome project, are thought to play a role in the body's immune system and could shed light on the immune system's role in cystic fibrosis, the researchers said.
"Our results show unique expression domains for (the proteins) within the airways and suggest that alterations in expression of these putative innate immune molecules may be associated with lung disease," the authors wrote.
"We've shown these proteins to be expressed in places like the upper airways, nose and mouth, where many bacteria and infectious agents are found," said U.K. researcher Colin Bingle. "These tiny molecules are thought to be part of the first line of the body's defenses against infectious agents."
