Current concepts on the pulmonary surfactant in infants.
Surfactant has been a main topic of neonatology in the last 20 years. Many studies have been conducted since the discovery of its role in the pathogenesis of respiratory distress syndrome and the knowledge on its composition and metabolism has become complex. In this article we review the current concepts of its metabolism, ways of acting, properties of its proteins and activities other than the ability of reducing surface tension within the lung as a basis to understand the development of disease in case of its deficiency.
Parmigiani
S
S
Department of Gynecologic, Obstetric and Neonatologic Sciences, Section of Child Health and Neonatology, University of Parma, Parma, Italy. sparmigiani@ao.pr.it
Solari
E
E
Bevilacqua
G
G
D005325:Fetal Organ Maturity / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008055:Lipids / Q000502:physiology; D008168:Lung / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000196:embryology / Q000276:immunology; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000378:metabolism; D037661:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D012119:Respiration; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000209:etiology*; D013499:Surface Properties / Q000187:drug effects; D013500:Surface Tension
D008055:Lipids; D037661:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Proteins; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants; C018167:tubular myelin