title: Pulmonary surfactant.
abstract: Pulmonary surfactant is a chemically heterogeneous material that provides a stable, low surface tension within the lung, thereby preventing alveolar collapse at low transpulmonary pressures. Both the lipid and the protein components of surfactant are important for establishing and maintaining a low surface tension. The composition of surfactant, the biogenesis of surfactant components, and the biologic roles of surfactant components are discussed in this brief review. Surfactant functions in adult lung disease and surfactant replacement therapy are also briefly considered.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco 94143.
authors.forename: L G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Dobbs
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D013500:Surface Tension
chemical_list: D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants