What is the composition of pulmonary surfactant?
Pulmonary surfactant is a complex mixture of phospholipids (PL) and proteins (SP) that reduce surface tension at the air-liquid interface of the alveolus. It is made up of about 70% to 80% PL, mainly dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC), 10% SP-A, B, C and D, and 10% neutral lipids, mainly cholesterol.
What is the composition and function of surfactant?
Lung surfactant is a complex with a unique phospholipid and protein composition. Its specific function is to reduce surface tension at the pulmonary air-liquid interface. The underlying Young-Laplace equation, applying to the surface of any geometrical structure, is the more important the smaller its radii are.
What is the composition of the lungs?
As mentioned, the lung is composed of over 40 types of cells including cells of the epithelium, interstitial connective tissue, blood vessels, hematopoietic and lymphoid tissue, and the pleura (9, 10).
What is the function of surfactant?
Function. The main functions of surfactant are as follows: (1) lowering surface tension at the air–liquid interface and thus preventing alveolar collapse at end-expiration, (2) interacting with and subsequent killing of pathogens or preventing their dissemination, and (3) modulating immune responses.
What causes lack of surfactant?
ABCA3 gene mutations, which cause a type of surfactant dysfunction sometimes referred to as ABCA3 deficiency, lead to reduction or absence of the protein’s function. Without ABCA3 protein function, the transport of surfactant phospholipids is decreased.
What are the functions of lung surfactant?
The main functions of surfactant are as follows: (1) lowering surface tension at the air–liquid interface and thus preventing alveolar collapse at end-expiration, (2) interacting with and subsequent killing of pathogens or preventing their dissemination, and (3) modulating immune responses.
What is the lipid composition of pulmonary surfactant?
Pulmonary surfactant is synthesized by alveolar type 2 cells (T2C) and it is composed of 90% lipid, primarily phospholipid, with contributions from other lipid classes and ~10% specific surfactant proteins. The surface tension reduction properties of surfactant owe to the predominant lipid, dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (PC 32:0) [ 19 ].
What is the function of the lung surfactant?
Lung surfactant: Function and composition in the context of development and respiratory physiology. Lung surfactant is a complex with a unique phospholipid and protein composition. Its specific function is to reduce surface tension at the pulmonary air-liquid interface.
Who is the author of the lung surfactant?
Ann Anat. 2016 Nov;208:146-150.doi: 10.1016/j.aanat
What are the effects of pulmonary surfactant deficiencies?
Lung surfactant deficiencies are associated with a range of lung problems including oxygen starvation, lung collapse and pulmonary edema [3]. Patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) often have lung surfactant that lacks the full range of surface tension modulation upon compression [2].
