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Altered phospholipid composition and aggregate structure of lung surfactant is associated with impaired lung function

Ann Mander1, Simon Langton-Hewer, Wolfgang Bernhard

  • 1Child Health, Infection Inflammation and Repair Division, School of Medicine, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, UK.

American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology
|November 22, 2002
PubMed

Insights

Pulmonary surfactant alterations worsen respiratory infections. In children, decreased surfactant phospholipids and increased surface tension in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) correlate with lung disease severity, particularly in infections.

Area of Science:

  • Pulmonary Medicine
  • Biochemistry
  • Pediatric Respiratory Health

Background:

  • Pulmonary surfactant alterations impact respiratory infection severity.
  • Surfactant dysfunction is implicated in various pediatric lung diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate pulmonary surfactant composition and function in children with respiratory infections, asthma, and cystic fibrosis (CF).
  • To correlate surfactant alterations with disease severity and airway resistance.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) phospholipid concentration and composition.
  • Measurement of minimal surface tension using a pulsating bubble surfactometer.
  • Assessment of surfactant aggregate forms via centrifugation.

Main Results:

  • BALF phospholipid concentration was elevated in all disease groups compared to controls.
  • Decreased dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (PC16:0/16:0) correlated with increased airway resistance.
  • Elevated minimal surface tension was observed in infection and CF groups.
  • Infection was associated with accumulation of large aggregate surfactant forms.

Conclusions:

  • Altered surfactant composition and function contribute to pediatric respiratory disease severity.
  • Accumulation of surface-inactive surfactant aggregates in infections may exacerbate lung disease.
  • Surfactant analysis offers insights into disease mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets.

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