In further support of innate immunity, GN and/or UGN release from Paneth cells may trigger bicarbonate secretion from neighboring CFTR-containing columnar cells, facilitating expansion of condensed mucins, and, consequently, the formation of the protective mucus layer covering the epithelium (Gustafsson et al. 2012; Garcia et al. 2009). This evidence concerns the gene CFTR and ganglioneuroma.