Pulmonary surfactant in innate immunity and the pathogenesis of tuberculosis.
Components of the innate immune system serve to protect the host from invading pathogens prior to the generation of a directed immune response, and influence the manner in which the directed immune response develops. The pulmonary surfactant system consists of a complex array of proteins and lipids that reduce surface tension of the alveoli, and appears to play an essential role in innate immunity. Investigators have recently gained insight into the interactions between components of the surfactant system and the respiratory pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It is likely that pulmonary surfactant and other innate immune determinants play significant roles in the pathogenesis of tuberculosis.
Ferguson
J S
JS
Department of Internal Medicine, Iowa City Veterans Affairs Medical Center and the University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA.  john-s-ferguson@uiowa.edu  
Schlesinger
L S
LS
D000818:Animals; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D004285:Dogs; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000502:physiology; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000502:physiology; D016676:Macrophages, Alveolar / Q000502:physiology; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000502:physiology; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants / Q000502:physiology*; D011817:Rabbits; D013552:Swine; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
D007136:Immunoglobulins; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants; D003165:Complement System Proteins