Sepsis is characterized by Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)-like pulmonary dysfunction largely attributed to alveolar capillary endothelial cell injury which causes increased microvascular permeability and interstitial edema formation. In addition, quantitative and qualitative abnormalities of the pulmonary surfactant system may be important features of some clinical and experimental ...

Deterioration of pulmonary surfactant function has been reported in interstitial lung disease; however, the molecular basis is presently unclear. We analyzed fatty acid (FA) profiles of several surfactant phospholipid classes isolated from large-surfactant aggregates of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF; n = 12), hypersensitivity pneumonitis (n = 5), and sarcoidosis (n = 12). Eig...

Whilst alterations in surfactant components of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) have been described in a variety of pulmonary diseases in adults, no information is available on the surfactant composition in children beyond the neonatal period. In order to obtain reference values for the paediatric age group, we have studied phospholipid profiles of BALF in children without pulmonary disease....

The pulmonary surfactant and respiratory disease are tightly linked. Adequate surfactant activity remains critical for optimal lung function throughout life, and secondary surfactant dysfunction may contribute to the process of many lung diseases, including Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, asthma, cystic fibrosis and pneumonia among others. Attempts to treat these lung diseases with exogeno...

Impregnation spray products are used for making surfaces water and dirt repellent. The products are composed of one or more active film-forming components dissolved or suspended in an appropriate solvent mixture. Exposure to impregnation spray products may cause respiratory distress and new cases are reported frequently. The toxicity appears to be driven by a disruption of the pulmonary surfact...

OBJECTIVE Pulmonary surfactant-associated protein B (SP-B), which is synthesized and secreted by alveolar epithelial type II cells, is crucial for normal functioning of pulmonary surfactant. Degeneration of pulmonary surfactant is the essential cause of acute lung injury (ALI). ALI is often studied in animal models using oleic acid, and the effects of oleic acid on pulmonary surfactant and SP-B...

An in vivo rat model was used to evaluate the effects of Escherichia coli pneumonia on lung function and surfactant in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). Total extracellular surfactant was increased in infected rats compared with controls. BAL phospholipid content in infected rats correlated with the severity of alveolar-capillary leak as reflected in lavage protein levels (R(2) = 0.908, P < 0.0001)...

Inhaled nitric oxide (NO) is a selective pulmonary vasodilator effective in treating persistent pulmonary hypertension in newborns and in infants following congenital heart disease surgery. Recently, multiple in vivo and in vitro studies have shown a negative effect of NO on surfactant activity as well as surfactant protein gene expression. Although the relationship between NO and surfactant ha...

Alveolar type II cells secrete, internalize, and recycle pulmonary surfactant, a lipid and protein complex that increases alveolar compliance and participates in pulmonary host defense. Surfactant protein (SP) D, a collagenous C-type lectin, has recently been described as a modulator of surfactant homeostasis. Mice lacking SP-D accumulate surfactant in their alveoli and type II cell lamellar bo...