Surfactant palmitoylmyristoylphosphatidylcholine is a marker for alveolar size during disease.

Abstract

Two common lung-related complications in the neonate are respiratory distress syndrome, which is associated with a failure to generate low surface tension at the air-liquid interface because of pulmonary surfactant insufficiency, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), a chronic lung injury with reduced alveolarization. Surfactant phosphatidylcholine (PC) molecular species composition during alveolarization has not been examined. Mass spectrometry analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of rodents and humans revealed significant changes in surfactant PC during alveolar development and BPD. In rats, total PC content rose during alveolarization, which was caused by an increase in palmitoylmyristoyl-PC (16:0/14:0PC) concentration. Furthermore, two animal models of BPD exhibited a specific reduction in 16:0/14:0PC content. In humans, 16:0/14:0PC content was specifically decreased in patients with BPD and emphysema compared with patients without alveolar pathology. Palmitoylmyristoyl-PC content increased with increasing intrinsic surfactant curvature, suggesting that it affects surfactant function in the septating lung. The changes in acyl composition of PC were attributed to type II cells producing an altered surfactant during alveolar development. These data are compatible with extracellular surfactant 16:0/14:0PC content being an indicator of alveolar architecture of the lung.

• Authors: Ross Ridsdale, Matthias Roth-Kleiner, Frank D'Ovidio, Sharon Unger, Man Yi, Shaf Keshavjee, A Keith Tanswell, Martin Post
• Journal: American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine (Am J Respir Crit Care Med) Vol. 172 Issue 2 Pg. 225-32 (Jul 15 2005) ISSN: 1073-449X [Print] United States
• PMID: 15879423 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers
• Phosphatidylcholines
• Pulmonary Surfactants

Topics

• Aging (metabolism)
• Animals
• Biomarkers (metabolism)
• Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid (chemistry)
• Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (metabolism, pathology, physiopathology)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Female
• Humans
• Infant, Newborn
• Organ Size
• Phosphatidylcholines (metabolism)
• Pulmonary Alveoli (growth & development, pathology)
• Pulmonary Emphysema (metabolism, pathology, physiopathology)
• Pulmonary Surfactants (metabolism)
• Rats
• Rats, Wistar