Understanding the principle biophysics concepts of pulmonary surfactant in health and disease

Author(s):  
Chiara Autilio ◽  
Jesús Pérez-Gil

Pulmonary surfactant (PS) is a lipid-protein complex essential to stabilise the delicate structure of mammalian alveoli along with successive compression-expansion respiratory cycles. To do so, surfactant reduces dramatically surface tension at the air-liquid interface, an activity that depends critically on a proper lipid composition and the presence of some specific surfactant proteins. Lack or dysfunction of this system is associated with severe respiratory pathologies, which are in some cases treated by supplementation with exogenous surfactant materials. The biophysical function and performance of PS, in health and disease, are directly influenced by its composition, structure and mechanical properties. This review summarises the main biophysics concepts behind the mechanisms that define surfactant function in a healthy lung and in pathological situations. It also revises some of the most useful biophysical techniques that provide information about surfactant-related processes. Finally, translational biophysics will be invoked to illustrate how biophysical studies may contribute to understand the role of surfactant in health and disease and to design better surfactant-based therapeutic approaches.

Author(s):  
Rosa Delgado Jiménez ◽  
Corinne Benakis

AbstractThe intestinal microbiome is emerging as a critical factor in health and disease. The microbes, although spatially restricted to the gut, are communicating and modulating the function of distant organs such as the brain. Stroke and other neurological disorders are associated with a disrupted microbiota. In turn, stroke-induced dysbiosis has a major impact on the disease outcome by modulating the immune response. In this review, we present current knowledge on the role of the gut microbiome in stroke, one of the most devastating brain disorders worldwide with very limited therapeutic options, and we discuss novel insights into the gut-immune-brain axis after an ischemic insult. Understanding the nature of the gut bacteria-brain crosstalk may lead to microbiome-based therapeutic approaches that can improve patient recovery.


Author(s):  
Yunling Gao ◽  
Zorina S. Galis

Traditionally, much research effort has been invested into focusing on disease, understanding pathogenic mechanisms, identifying risk factors, and developing effective treatments. A few recent studies unraveling the basis for absence of disease, including cardiovascular disease, despite existing risk factors, a phenomenon commonly known as resilience, are adding new knowledge and suggesting novel therapeutic approaches. Given the central role of endothelial function in cardiovascular health, we herein provide a number of considerations that warrant future research and considering a paradigm shift toward identifying the molecular underpinnings of endothelial resilience.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (10) ◽  
pp. 3708 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olga Cañadas ◽  
Bárbara Olmeda ◽  
Alejandro Alonso ◽  
Jesús Pérez-Gil

Pulmonary surfactant is a lipid/protein complex synthesized by the alveolar epithelium and secreted into the airspaces, where it coats and protects the large respiratory air–liquid interface. Surfactant, assembled as a complex network of membranous structures, integrates elements in charge of reducing surface tension to a minimum along the breathing cycle, thus maintaining a large surface open to gas exchange and also protecting the lung and the body from the entrance of a myriad of potentially pathogenic entities. Different molecules in the surfactant establish a multivalent crosstalk with the epithelium, the immune system and the lung microbiota, constituting a crucial platform to sustain homeostasis, under health and disease. This review summarizes some of the most important molecules and interactions within lung surfactant and how multiple lipid–protein and protein–protein interactions contribute to the proper maintenance of an operative respiratory surface.


2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 353-365
Author(s):  
Athanasios Xanthopoulos ◽  
Iliana Daskalopoulou ◽  
Sofia Frountzi ◽  
Evangelia Papadimitriou

Angiogenesis is essential during development or when tissue restoration and oxygenation is required. Limited or excessive formation of blood vessels is a hallmark of several pathologies, and many angiogenesis-related pathways are being studied to highlight potential targets for effective angiogenesis-stimulating or inhibiting therapeutic approaches. A few studies point to the adrenergic system as a significant regulator of angiogenesis, directly or indirectly. Functional adrenergic receptors are expressed on endothelial cells and affect their response to the adrenergic system. The latter can also upregulate the release of growth factors by mural cells of the vessel wall, blood cells or cancer cells, thus subsequently affecting endothelial cell functions and angiogenesis. In the present study we summarize up-to-date literature on the known effects of the adrenergic receptors on physiological and pathological angiogenesis.


2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alice G. Geagea ◽  
Samir Mallat ◽  
Charbel F. Matar ◽  
Raymond Zerbe ◽  
Estelle Filfili ◽  
...  

Adiponectin, a protein secreted by adipocytes, gained a special medical attention in the past two decades mostly due to its relation to obesity, a major health problem worldwide. Moreover, adiponectin has shown to have a preventive effect on insulin resistance, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Lately, obesity has been classified as a chronic inflammatory state, whereby dysregulated adipocytes and high infiltration of macrophages shift toward the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines like TNF-α and IL-6 among others. This status contributes to a decrease in adiponectin levels, thus leading to the emergence of obesity related complications. This review will focus on the hormone adiponectin and its mechanisms of action in relation to insulin resistance, diabetes, cardiovascular effect and atherosclerosis. It will also cover the various therapeutic approaches aiming to increase the levels of this important cytokine, and to highlight the promising role of AdipoRon, an adiponectin receptor agonist, and of diet.


2021 ◽  
pp. S195-S208
Author(s):  
A CALKOVSKA ◽  
M KOLOMAZNIK ◽  
V CALKOVSKY

In this review, we discuss the role of pulmonary surfactant in the host defense against respiratory pathogens, including novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. In the lower respiratory system, the virus uses angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor in conjunction with serine protease TMPRSS2, expressed by alveolar type II (ATII) cells as one of the SARS-CoV-2 target cells, to enter. ATII cells are the main source of surfactant. After their infection and the resulting damage, the consequences may be severe and may include injury to the alveolar-capillary barrier, lung edema, inflammation, ineffective gas exchange, impaired lung mechanics and reduced oxygenation, which resembles acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) of other etiology. The aim of this review is to highlight the key role of ATII cells and reduced surfactant in the pathogenesis of the respiratory form of COVID-19 and to emphasize the rational basis for exogenous surfactant therapy in COVID-19 ARDS patients.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qing Fang ◽  
Na Liu ◽  
Binjie Zheng ◽  
Fei Guo ◽  
Xiangchang Zeng ◽  
...  

Diabetes is a highly prevalent metabolic disease that has emerged as a global challenge due to its increasing prevalence and lack of sustainable treatment. Diabetic kidney disease (DKD), which is one of the most frequent and severe microvascular complications of diabetes, is difficult to treat with contemporary glucose-lowering medications. The gut microbiota plays an important role in human health and disease, and its metabolites have both beneficial and harmful effects on vital physiological processes. In this review, we summarize the current findings regarding the role of gut microbial metabolites in the development and progression of DKD, which will help us better understand the possible mechanisms of DKD and explore potential therapeutic approaches for DKD.


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