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Lung surfactant proteins A and D in innate immune defense
A B Vaandrager1, L M van Golde
1Department of Biochemistry, Cell Biology and Histology, and Graduate School of Animal Health, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands. A.B.Vaandrager@vet.uu.nl
Abstract:
The lung surfactant proteins (SP) A and D are large multimeric proteins and belong to a family of collagenous C-type lectins designated collectins. Both SP-A and SP-D are believed to play a role in the innate immunity of the lung. SP-A and SP-D bind to a broad spectrum of pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, fungi and yeasts but also lipopolysaccharides and allergens. Furthermore, SP-A and SP-D enhance the clearing of various pathogens by neutrophils and macrophages in vitro. Recent in vivo studies on SP-A deficient mice also support a role of SP-A in host defense.