Surfactant Protein-C in the Maintenance of Lung Integrity and Function

Abstract

Surfactant protein-C (SP-C) is a lung cell specific protein whose expression is identified from the earliest stages of mammalian lung development in a subset of developing epithelial cells and in the alveolar type II cell in the mature lung. Although SP-C gene expression is not critical and protein function is not necessary for the normal developing morphological patterning of the lung, studies of SP-C protein mutations and SP-C deficiency have revealed critical roles of SP-C in the maintenance and function of the preterm and mature lung during various forms of intrinsic or extrinsic lung injury. This review summarizes studies using in vitro experimental approaches, in vivo modeling in transgenic mice, and analysis of human disease pathogenesis. Collected data reveal an essential role for SP-C singly and in combination with other lung proteins, in maintenance of lung structure and pulmonary function of the immature and mature lung.