Surfactant proteins of the human larynx.
OBJECTIVE
Surfactant proteins (SPs) originally identified in lung tissue are important players in the innate immune system. Beyond this, they contribute to stability and rheology of gaseous or aqueous interphases. In the present study, we determined the expression and presence of SPs (A, B, C and D) in different areas of the human larynx.


METHODS
mRNA expression of SP-A, -B, -C and -D was analyzed by means of RT-PCR in healthy samples of epiglottis, vocal and vestibular folds, subglottis and trachea. Distribution and localization of all four SPs were analyzed by Western blot and immunohistochemistry in healthy human tissue samples.


RESULTS
All four SPs were detected at the mRNA- and protein level in the human larynx as well as by means of immunohistochemistry in the different tissue samples of the human larynx.


CONCLUSIONS
The results reveal that all four SPs are produced with different expression patterns within the human larynx. Based on the known functions, our results suggest that SPs might be involved in maintaining mucus rheology and subsequently they could be essential components for proper phonation. Moreover, the proteins seem to play a role in immune defense of the larynx.
Department of Anatomy II, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.
M
M
Sheats
Department of Anatomy II, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.
H
H
Schröder
Department of Anatomy II, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.
F
F
Rausch
Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.
C
C
Bohr
Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.
F
F
Kißlinger
Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.
J
J
de Tristan
Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.
H
H
Iro
Department of Anatomy II, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.
F
F
Garreis
Department of Anatomy II, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.
F
F
Paulsen
Department of Anatomy II, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.
M
M
Schicht
Department of Anatomy II, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany. Electronic address: lars.braeuer@fau.de.
L
L
Bräuer
D002102:Cadaver; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007830:Larynx / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009928:Organ Specificity; D037661:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D037661:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Proteins
Epiglottis; Larynx; Surfactant proteins