Cell proliferation in bronchial epithelium and submucosal glands of cystic fibrosis patients.

Integrative gene therapy typically requires dividing cells. This requirement has been perceived as an impediment for gene transfer to mature, uninjured airways where proliferation rates are very low. In diseases such as cystic fibrosis (CF) that may be candidates for integrative gene therapy, airway cell turnover is not known but may be increased as a result of chronic inflammation.