title: Potential role of surfactant proteins A and D in innate lung defense against pathogens.
abstract: The physiological role of pulmonary surfactant is probably not limited to conferring mechanical stability to the alveoli. Increasing evidence suggests that surfactant components, in particular the hydrophilic surfactant proteins SP-A and SP-D, play potentially important roles in host defense mechanisms. Both SP-A and SP-D are collagenous C-type lectins (collectins) that are structurally and, perhaps, functionally related to collectins in the circulation. As will be discussed in this review, evidence is accumulating that the alveolar collectins SP-A and SP-D could be important components of a first-line defense system against infiltrating pathogenic micro-organisms and viruses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Basic Sciences, Utrecht University, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: van Golde
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000276:immunology; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D016676:Macrophages, Alveolar / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000502:physiology; D011510:Proteolipids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D037662:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein A; D037663:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein D; D037661:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Proteins; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D016897:Respiratory Burst; D014780:Viruses / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D006023:Glycoproteins; D011510:Proteolipids; D037662:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein A; D037663:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein D; D037661:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Proteins; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants