Surfactant proteins A and D in pulmonary diseases of preterm infants

Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther. 2012 May;10(5):573-84. doi: 10.1586/eri.12.34.

Abstract

Immaturity of the pulmonary and immune systems represents an important risk factor for increased morbidity and mortality in neonates. Surfactant protein (SP)-A and SP-D, linking molecules between these two systems, are critical for lung homeostasis as they regulate surfactant metabolism and host immunodefense activities in innate and adaptive immunity. Preterm neonates with respiratory distress syndrome showed lower concentrations of SP-A and SP-D, and the administration of exogenous surfactant was found to strengthen the secretion of SPs. Low levels of SP-A and SP-D also correlated with a higher risk of infection and development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Moreover, SP-A- and SP-D-enriched surfactant formulations were more resistant to the inhibitory action of the plasmatic proteins in animal models. Based on these assumptions, new-generation surfactants, enriched with SP-A and/or SP-D, may enhance the function of immune system and lungs in neonates, potentially improving the clinical outcome.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adaptive Immunity
  • Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia / drug therapy
  • Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia / immunology
  • Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia / metabolism
  • Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia / pathology
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Innate
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infant, Premature*
  • Lung / immunology
  • Lung / metabolism
  • Lung / pathology
  • Lung Diseases / drug therapy
  • Lung Diseases / immunology*
  • Lung Diseases / metabolism
  • Lung Diseases / pathology
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Interaction Mapping
  • Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein A / immunology
  • Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein A / metabolism*
  • Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein A / pharmacology
  • Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein D / immunology
  • Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein D / metabolism*
  • Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein D / pharmacology
  • Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / drug therapy
  • Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / immunology
  • Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / metabolism*
  • Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / pathology
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein A
  • Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein D