Restoring pulmonary surfactant membranes and films at the respiratory surface.
Pulmonary surfactant is a complex of lipids and proteins assembled and secreted by the alveolar epithelium into the thin layer of fluid coating the respiratory surface of lungs. There, surfactant forms interfacial films at the air-water interface, reducing dramatically surface tension and thus stabilizing the air-exposed interface to prevent alveolar collapse along respiratory mechanics. The absence or deficiency of surfactant produces severe lung pathologies. This review describes some of the most important surfactant-related pathologies, which are a cause of high morbidity and mortality in neonates and adults. The review also updates current therapeutic approaches pursuing restoration of surfactant operative films in diseased lungs, mainly through supplementation with exogenous clinical surfactant preparations. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Membrane Lipid Therapy: Drugs Targeting Biomembranes edited by Pablo V. Escribá.
Dept. Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology, and Research Institute "Hospital 12 de Octubre", Complutense University, Madrid, Spain.
Mercedes
M
Echaide
Dept. Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology, and Research Institute "Hospital 12 de Octubre", Complutense University, Madrid, Spain.
Chiara
C
Autilio
Dept. Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology, and Research Institute "Hospital 12 de Octubre", Complutense University, Madrid, Spain.
Raquel
R
Arroyo
Dept. Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology, and Research Institute "Hospital 12 de Octubre", Complutense University, Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: jperezgil@bio.ucm.es.
Jesus
J
Perez-Gil
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000737:chemistry*; D008471:Meconium Aspiration Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology
D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants
ARDS; Air-liquid interface; Exogenous surfactant therapy; Meconium aspiration sindrome; NRDS; Respiratory mechanics