title: Immunoregulatory functions of surfactant proteins.
abstract: Because the lungs function as the body's gas-exchange organ, they are inevitably exposed to air that is contaminated with pathogens, allergens and pollutants. Host-defence mechanisms within the lungs must facilitate clearance of inhaled pathogens and particles while minimizing an inflammatory response that could damage the thin, delicate gas-exchanging epithelium. Pulmonary surfactant is a complex of lipids and proteins that enhances pathogen clearance and regulates adaptive and innate immune-cell functions. In this article, I review the structure and functions of the surfactant proteins SP-A and SP-D in regulating host immune defence and in modulating inflammatory responses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA. j.wright@cellbio.duke.edu
authors.forename: Jo Rae
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Wright
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D037222:Collectins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D011506:Proteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D037662:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein A / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D037222:Collectins; D011506:Proteins; D037662:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein A; D013501:Surface-Active Agents