Original ArticleA novel guluronate oligomer improves intestinal transit and survival in cystic fibrosis mice

BackgroundCystic fibrosis (CF) patients experience intestinal complications characterized by the accumulation of thick viscous mucus. CF mice were utilized to determine if a novel guluronate oligomer, OligoG, may be a potential therapy in reducing intestinal mucus and subsequent CF-related intestinal manifestations.MethodsIntestinal transit, intestinal histology, survival and growth were examined in wildtype and CF mice on regular water and OligoG.ConclusionsOligoG improves intestinal transit and survival in CF mice by reducing the accumulation of intestinal mucus. OligoG's ability to directly bind mucin, disrupt mucin interaction and/or sequester calcium allowing for mucin expansion may explain the decrease in mucus accumulation.