Cystic fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis is characterised by a defect of the chloride channel CFTR (cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator) on epithelial cells in the lungs. The CFTR regulates the components of sweat, digestive juices, and mucus. Defects lead to a viscous, dehydrated mucus, hindering mucociliary clearance. Denufosol is an agonist at the P2Y2 subtype of purinergic receptors which via its associated G protein leads to activation of alternative chloride channel. Activating this alternate chloride channel theoretically increases ion transport in cystic fibrosis patients which compensates the effects caused by the non-functioning CFTR.