title: Non-Pulmonary Immune Functions of Surfactant Proteins A and D.
abstract: Surfactant proteins A (SP-A) and D (SP-D) are established as essential components of our innate immune system for protecting the lung from pathogens and allergens. They essentially exert their protective functions by regulating pulmonary homeostasis. Both proteins are however widely expressed throughout the body, including the female reproductive tract, urinary tract, gastrointestinal tract, the eye, ear, nasal compartment, central nervous system, the coronary artery and the skin. The functions of SP-A and SP-D at these sites are a relatively underinvestigated area, but it is emerging that both SP-A and SP-D contribute significantly to the regulation of inflammation and protection from infection at these sites. This review presents our current understanding of the roles of SP-A and SP-D in non-pulmonary sites.
authors: UCT Receptor Biology Research Unit, Division of Medical Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors: Sylvia
authors: S
authors: Ujma
authors: William G C
authors: WG
authors: Horsnell
authors: Arieh A
authors: AA
authors: Katz
authors: Howard W
authors: HW
authors: Clark
authors: Georgia
authors: G
authors: Schäfer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007239:Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology*; D008168:Lung / Q000502:physiology*; D037662:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein A / Q000276:immunology*; D037663:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein D / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D037662:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein A; D037663:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein D