Recent progress on surfactant protein A: cellular function in lung and kidney disease development.

Abstract

Pulmonary surfactant is a heterogeneous active surface complex made up of lipids and proteins. The major glycoprotein in surfactant is surfactant protein A (SP-A), which is released into the alveolar lumen from cytoplasmic lamellar bodies in type II alveolar epithelial cells. SP-A is involved in phospholipid absorption. SP-A together with other surfactant proteins and phospholipids prevent alveolar collapse during respiration by decreasing the surface tension of the air-liquid interface. Additionally, SP-A interacts with pathogens to prevent their propagation and regulate host immune responses. Studies in human and animal models have shown that deficiencies or mutations in surfactant components result in various lung or kidney pathologies, suggesting a role for SP-A in the development of lung and kidney diseases. In this mini-review, we discuss the current understanding of SP-A functions, recent findings of its dysfunction in specific lung and kidney pathologies, and how SP-A has been used as a biomarker to detect the outcome of lung diseases.

• Authors: Skylar D King, Shi-You Chen
• Journal: American journal of physiology. Cell physiology (Am J Physiol Cell Physiol) Vol. 319 Issue 2 Pg. C316-C320 (08 01 2020) ISSN: 1522-1563 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 32639871 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Review)

Chemical References

• Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein A
• Pulmonary Surfactants

Topics

• Alveolar Epithelial Cells (metabolism, pathology)
• Cytoplasm (genetics, metabolism)
• Disease Progression
• Humans
• Kidney (metabolism, pathology)
• Kidney Diseases (genetics, pathology)
• Lung (metabolism, pathology)
• Lung Diseases (genetics, pathology)
• Pulmonary Alveoli (metabolism, pathology)
• Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein A (genetics)
• Pulmonary Surfactants (metabolism)