title: Protective roles of pulmonary surfactant proteins, SP-A and SP-D, against lung allergy and infection caused by Aspergillus fumigatus.
abstract: Pulmonary surfactant proteins, SP-A and SP-D, are immune molecules which can directly interact with pathogens and allergens, stimulate immune cells and manipulate cytokine and chemokine profiles during host's immune response. Using an opportunistic fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus (Afu), we have attempted to understand participation of SP-A and SP-D in the host immunity. Afu causes a systemic infection via lungs, called invasive aspergillosis (IPA) in immunocompromised subjects. In the immunocompetent subjects, it can cause an allergic disorder, called allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA). Therapeutic administration of these proteins in a murine model of IPA can rescue mice from death. Treating mice, having ABPA, can suppress IgE levels, eosinophilia, pulmonary cellular infiltration and cause a marked shift from a pathogenic Th2 to a protective Th1 cytokine profile. These results highlight the potential of SP-A, SP-D and their recombinant forms, as novel therapeutics for lung allergy and infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, UK. ukishore@hammer.imm.ox.ac.uk
authors.forename: Uday
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kishor
authors.forename: Taruna
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Madan
authors.forename: P Usha
authors.initials: PU
authors.lastname: Sarma
authors.forename: Mamta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Britta C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Urban
authors.forename: Kenneth B M
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Reid
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D001229:Aspergillosis, Allergic Bronchopulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy; D001232:Aspergillus fumigatus / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D008172:Lung Diseases, Fungal / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D037662:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein A / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D037663:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein D / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D037662:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein A; D037663:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein D