scholarly journals Revisiting the role of pulmonary surfactant in chronic inflammatory lung diseases and environmental exposure

2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (162) ◽  
pp. 210077
Author(s):  
Nadia Milad ◽  
Mathieu C. Morissette

Pulmonary surfactant is a crucial and dynamic lung structure whose primary functions are to reduce alveolar surface tension and facilitate breathing. Though disruptions in surfactant homeostasis are typically thought of in the context of respiratory distress and premature infants, many lung diseases have been noted to have significant surfactant abnormalities. Nevertheless, preclinical and clinical studies of pulmonary disease too often overlook the potential contribution of surfactant alterations – whether in quantity, quality or composition – to disease pathogenesis and symptoms. In inflammatory lung diseases, whether these changes are cause or consequence remains a subject of debate. This review will outline 1) the importance of pulmonary surfactant in the maintenance of respiratory health, 2) the diseases associated with primary surfactant dysregulation, 3) the surfactant abnormalities observed in inflammatory pulmonary diseases and, finally, 4) the available research on the interplay between surfactant homeostasis and smoking-associated lung disease. From these published studies, we posit that changes in surfactant integrity and composition contribute more considerably to chronic inflammatory pulmonary diseases and that more work is required to determine the mechanisms underlying these alterations and their potential treatability.

1991 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 261-267
Author(s):  
Roger F. Soll ◽  
Jerold F. Lucey

Despite medical and technological advances, respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in premature infants. Thirty years have passed since Avery and Mead demonstrated that infants dying of RDS were deficient in pulmonary surfactant. In those three decades, advances in our understanding of the composition, function, and metabolism of pulmonary surfactant have finally led to clinical trials of surfactant replacement therapy in thousands of premature infants. This article reviews the current status of surfactant replacement therapy. BACKGROUND Pulmonary surfactant is essential for normal lung function. Surfactant forms a film at the alveolar surface, which prevents the lung from collapsing at the end of expiration. Surfactant may have other functions as well, including the prevention of pulmonary edema, the prevention of infection, and the prevention of lung injury from toxic substances, such as oxygen (Table 1) CHEMICAL MAKEUP The chemical makeup of pulmonary surfactant has been well defined (Table 2). Lipids are the major component, comprising up to 80% to 90% of surfactant by weight. The majority of the lipids in pulmonary surfactant are highly polar phospholipids, predominantly phosphatidylcholine. Three proteins associated with surfactant have been these surfactant proteins may play a critical role in surfactant function by improving the adsorption of surfactant at the alveolar surface and by aiding in surfactant re-uptake and metabolism.


1989 ◽  
Vol 257 (2) ◽  
pp. L1-L12 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. F. Tierney

By appreciating the influence of surface forces on lung mechanics, discovering pulmonary surfactant, and then recognizing its deficiency states a small number of investigators began the first 30 years of pulmonary surfactant research. These investigators had different backgrounds and took diverse approaches to understand surface forces in the lung. Their careers provide a fascinating study of the means by which new discoveries are made. After recognizing the critical importance of surfactant, investigators turned to a series of questions that obviously needed to be answered and they attempted to learn the following: 1) how to quantitate surfactant; 2) its biochemical and structural composition; 3) how it leaves the alveolar surface after secretion; and 4) its role in lung diseases. This research established the basis for pursuing the cellular and molecular biology of surfactant.


2016 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 967-977 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saeed Kolahian ◽  
Hasan Halit Öz ◽  
Benyuan Zhou ◽  
Christoph M. Griessinger ◽  
Nikolaus Rieber ◽  
...  

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are innate immune cells characterised by their potential to control T-cell responses and to dampen inflammation. While the role of MDSCs in cancer has been studied in depth, our understanding of their relevance for infectious and inflammatory disease conditions has just begun to evolve. Recent studies highlight an emerging and complex role for MDSCs in pulmonary diseases. In this review, we discuss the potential contribution of MDSCs as biomarkers and therapeutic targets in lung diseases, particularly lung cancer, tuberculosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma and cystic fibrosis.


2020 ◽  
Vol 201 (2) ◽  
pp. 260-261
Author(s):  
Arnaud Bourdin ◽  
Carey M. Suehs ◽  
Thomas V. Colby ◽  
Isabelle Vachier ◽  
Nicolas Molinari ◽  
...  

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 2036
Author(s):  
Luigi Marongiu ◽  
Markus Burkard ◽  
Sascha Venturelli ◽  
Heike Allgayer

Natural compounds such as essential oils and tea have been used successfully in naturopathy and folk medicine for hundreds of years. Current research is unveiling the molecular role of their antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties. Nevertheless, the effect of these compounds on bacteriophages is still poorly understood. The application of bacteriophages against bacteria has gained a particular interest in recent years due to, e.g., the constant rise of antimicrobial resistance to antibiotics, or an increasing awareness of different types of microbiota and their potential contribution to gastrointestinal diseases, including inflammatory and malignant conditions. Thus, a better knowledge of how dietary products can affect bacteriophages and, in turn, the whole gut microbiome can help maintain healthy homeostasis, reducing the risk of developing diseases such as diverse types of gastroenteritis, inflammatory bowel disease, or even cancer. The present review summarizes the effect of dietary compounds on the physiology of bacteriophages. In a majority of works, the substance class of polyphenols showed a particular activity against bacteriophages, and the primary mechanism of action involved structural damage of the capsid, inhibiting bacteriophage activity and infectivity. Some further dietary compounds such as caffeine, salt or oregano have been shown to induce or suppress prophages, whereas others, such as the natural sweeter stevia, promoted species-specific phage responses. A better understanding of how dietary compounds could selectively, and specifically, modulate the activity of individual phages opens the possibility to reorganize the microbial network as an additional strategy to support in the combat, or in prevention, of gastrointestinal diseases, including inflammation and cancer.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marissa A. Guttenberg ◽  
Aaron T. Vose ◽  
Robert M. Tighe

2017 ◽  
Vol 31 (7/8) ◽  
pp. 730-745 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorge Cegarra-Sanchez ◽  
Juan-Gabriel Cegarra-Navarro ◽  
Anthony Wensley ◽  
Jose Diaz Manzano

Purpose Knowledge acquired from sources of unverified information such as gossip, partial truths or lies, in this paper it is termed as “counter-knowledge.” The purpose of this paper is to explore this topic through an exploration of the links between a Hospital-in-the-Home Units (HHUs) learning process (LP), counter-knowledge, and the utilization of communication technologies. The following two questions are addressed: Does the reduction of counter-knowledge result in the utilization of communication technologies? Does the development of counter-knowledge hinder the LP? Design/methodology/approach This paper examines the relevance of communication technologies to the exploration and exploitation of knowledge for 252 patients of a (HHU) within a Spanish regional hospital. The data collected was analyzed using the PLS-Graph. Findings To HHU managers, this study offers a set of guidelines to assist in their gaining an understanding of the role of counter-knowledge in organizational LPs and the potential contribution of communication technologies. Our findings support the proposition that the negative effects of counter-knowledge can be mitigated by using communication technologies. Originality/value It is argued in this paper that counter-knowledge may play a variety of different roles in the implementation of LPs. Specifically, the assignment of communication technologies to homecare units has given them the means to filter counter-knowledge and prevent users from any possible problems caused by such counter-knowledge.


Author(s):  
Diletta Cozzi ◽  
Eleonora Bicci ◽  
Alessandra Bindi ◽  
Edoardo Cavigli ◽  
Ginevra Danti ◽  
...  

The infection caused by novel beta-coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) was officially declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization in March 2020. However, in the last 20 years, this has not been the only viral infection to cause respiratory tract infections leading to hundreds of thousands of deaths worldwide, referring in particular to severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), influenza H1N1 and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). Although in this pandemic period SARS-CoV-2 infection should be the first diagnosis to exclude, many other viruses can cause pulmonary manifestations and have to be recognized. Through the description of the main radiological patterns, radiologists can suggest the diagnosis of viral pneumonia, also combining information from clinical and laboratory data.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (23) ◽  
pp. 9018
Author(s):  
Ranjini Sankaranarayanan ◽  
D. Ramesh Kumar ◽  
Meric A. Altinoz ◽  
G. Jayarama Bhat

Aspirin, synthesized and marketed in 1897 by Bayer, is one of the most widely used drugs in the world. It has a well-recognized role in decreasing inflammation, pain and fever, and in the prevention of thrombotic cardiovascular diseases. Its anti-inflammatory and cardio-protective actions have been well studied and occur through inhibition of cyclooxygenases (COX). Interestingly, a vast amount of epidemiological, preclinical and clinical studies have revealed aspirin as a promising chemopreventive agent, particularly against colorectal cancers (CRC); however, the primary mechanism by which it decreases the occurrences of CRC has still not been established. Numerous mechanisms have been proposed for aspirin’s chemopreventive properties among which the inhibition of COX enzymes has been widely discussed. Despite the wide attention COX-inhibition has received as the most probable mechanism of cancer prevention by aspirin, it is clear that aspirin targets many other proteins and pathways, suggesting that these extra-COX targets may also be equally important in preventing CRC. In this review, we discuss the COX-dependent and -independent pathways described in literature for aspirin’s anti-cancer effects and highlight the strengths and limitations of the proposed mechanisms. Additionally, we emphasize the potential role of the metabolites of aspirin and salicylic acid (generated in the gut through microbial biotransformation) in contributing to aspirin’s chemopreventive actions. We suggest that the preferential chemopreventive effect of aspirin against CRC may be related to direct exposure of aspirin/salicylic acid or its metabolites to the colorectal tissues. Future investigations should shed light on the role of aspirin, its metabolites and the role of the gut microbiota in cancer prevention against CRC.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document