Flow-immunofluorescent studies of lung surfactant protein (SP-B)

Abstract

Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), a life threatening disorder, occurs if a lipid-protein complex which lines the airspaces of the lungs is compromised. Successful treatment of RDS has been reported with a vesicular dispersion containing dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC), egg phosphatidylglycerol (egg PG), palmitic acid and lung surfactant protein, SP-B. It has been hypothesized that amphipathic regions of SP-B are important in these synthetic lung surfactants as they serve as a point of insertion for the protein into the lipid bilayer. Therefore two amphipathic peptides, SP-B(l-25) and SP-B(49-66), were synthesized to use in reconstitution studies. The incorporation of SP-B(l-25) into lipid bilayer has been visualized using immunofluorescent tagging in a specially designed flow-chamber.