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Pulmonary surfactant is a surface-active complex of phospholipids and proteins formed by type II alveolar cells. [1] The proteins and lipids that make up the surfactant have both hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions.
Surfactant therapy is the medical administration of pulmonary surfactant that is derived from outside of the body. Pulmonary surfactant is a soap-like chemical synthesized by type II alveolar pneumocytes and is of various lipids (80% phospholipids, 5-10% cholesterol, and ∼10% surfactant-associated proteins).
Pulmonary surfactant is used as a medication to treat and prevent respiratory distress syndrome in newborn babies. [ 1 ] Prevention is generally done in babies born at a gestational age of less than 32 weeks. [ 1 ]
The protein component of surfactant helps in the modulation of the innate immune response, and inflammatory processes. Alveolar sac region of the lung - TEM. SP-A1 is a member of a subfamily of C-type lectins called collectins. Together with SP-A2, they are the most abundant proteins of pulmonary surfactant.
Pulmonary surfactant is a complex system of lipids, proteins and glycoproteins that is produced in specialized lung cells called Type II cells or Type II pneumocytes. The surfactant is packaged by the cell in structures called lamellar bodies, and extruded into the air spaces. The lamellar bodies then unfold into a complex lining of the air space.
Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) is a phospholipid (and a lecithin) consisting of two C 16 palmitic acid groups attached to a phosphatidylcholine head-group.. It is the main constituent of pulmonary surfactants, which reduces the work of breathing and prevents alveolar collapse during breathing.
The human body produces diverse surfactants. Pulmonary surfactant is produced in the lungs in order to facilitate breathing by increasing total lung capacity, and lung compliance. In respiratory distress syndrome or RDS, surfactant replacement therapy helps patients have normal respiration by using pharmaceutical forms of the surfactants.
Surfactant metabolism dysfunction is a condition where pulmonary surfactant is insufficient for adequate respiration. Surface tension at the liquid-air interphase in the alveoli makes the air sacs prone to collapsing post expiration. This is due to the fact that water molecules in the liquid-air surface of alveoli are more attracted to one ...