title: Pulmonary surfactant metabolism in the alveolar airspace: Biogenesis, extracellular conversions, recycling.
abstract: Pulmonary surfactant is a lipid-protein complex that lines and stabilizes the respiratory interface in the alveoli, allowing for gas exchange during the breathing cycle. At the same time, surfactant constitutes the first line of lung defense against pathogens. This review presents an updated view on the processes involved in biogenesis and intracellular processing of newly synthesized and recycled surfactant components, as well as on the extracellular surfactant transformations before and after the formation of the surface active film at the air-water interface. Special attention is paid to the crucial regulation of surfactant homeostasis, because its disruption is associated with several lung pathologies.
authors: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology, and Research Institute "Hospital 12 de Octubre", Complutense University, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
authors: Bárbara
authors: B
authors: Olmeda
authors: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology, and Research Institute "Hospital 12 de Octubre", Complutense University, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
authors: Marta
authors: M
authors: Martínez-Calle
authors: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology, and Research Institute "Hospital 12 de Octubre", Complutense University, 28040 Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: jperezgil@bio.ucm.es.
authors: Jesus
authors: J
authors: Pérez-Gil
mesh_terms: D056809:Alveolar Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism*; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000378:metabolism; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000378:metabolism*; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants / Q000378:metabolism*; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D010743:Phospholipids; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants
keywords: Air–liquid interface; Lung; Pneumocyte; Pulmonary surfactant; Surface tension