Abstract
Lung surfactant, a lipo-protein complex, is a highly surface-active material found in the fluid lining the air-liquid interface of the alveolar surface. Surfactant plays a dual function of preventing alveolar collapse during breathing cycle and protection of the lungs from injuries and infections caused by foreign bodies and pathogens. Varying degrees of structure-function abnormalities of surfactant have been associated with obstructive lung diseases, respiratory infections, respiratory distress syndromes, interstitial lung diseases, pulmonary alveolar proteinosis, cardiopulmonary bypass surgery and smoking. For some pulmonary conditions, especially respiratory distress syndrome, surfactant therapy is on the horizon.
Keywords: Surfactant proteins, surfactant phospholipids, surface activity, pulmonary diseases, surfactant dysfunction
Suggested Reading
- [1].Griese M. Pulmonary surfactant in health and human lung diseases: state of the art. Eur Respir J. 1999;13(No. 6):1455–76. doi: 10.1183/09031936.99.13614779. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- [2].Veldhuizen E J, Haagsman H P. Role of pulmonary surfactant components in surface film formation and dynamics. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2000;1467(No. 2):255–70. doi: 10.1016/S0005-2736(00)00256-X. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- [3].Crouch E C. Collectins and pulmonary host defense. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 1998;19(No. 2):177–201. doi: 10.1165/ajrcmb.19.2.140. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- [4].Kumar A R, Snyder J M. Surfactant protein-A: new insights into an old protein-Part I. Indian J Pediatr. 1998;65(No. 5):629–41. doi: 10.1007/BF02731033. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- [5].Kumar A R, Snyder J M. Surfactant protein—A: new insights into an old protein-II. Indian J Pediatr. 1998;65(No. 6):781–95. doi: 10.1007/BF02831335. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- [6].Balamugesh T, Kaur S, Majumdar S, Behera D. Surfactant protein-A levels in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome. Indian J Med Res. 2003;117:129–33. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- [7].Goerke J, Clements J A. Hand Book of Physiology. The Respiratory System. Mechanics of Breathing. Bethesda, MD: Am. Physiol. Soc.; 1986. Alveolar surface tension and lung surfactant; pp. 247–262. [Google Scholar]