Abstract
Alveolar surfactant is exposed to a variety of oxidants that can oxidize functionally important lipids and proteins. We examined the hypothesis that the type II pneumocyte equips surfactant with antioxidants to counteract its oxidation. Rat type II cells, cultured in the presence of 14C-palmitic acid and either 3H-vitamin E or 3H-vitamin D, responded to stimulation with isoproterenol with a time-dependent increase in secretion of 14C-labelled phospholipids and 3H-vitamin E, but not of 3H-vitamin D. Plasmatogens - a subclass of phospholipids - also act as antioxidants in animal cells. Type II cells, cultured in presence of 3H palmitic acid and 14C hexadecanol, synthesize and secrete 3H labeled phospholipids and 14C labeled plasmalogens spontaneously and in response to isoproterenol stimulation. In pharyngeal aspirates of healthy newborns vitamin Eand plasmalogen contents range from 2-10 nmol/μmol polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and from 8-20 nmol/μmol PUFA respectively. We conclude that alveolar surfactant is equipped with lipophilic antioxidants of its own during its formation in type II cells. These lipophilic components could be of use as clinical parameters to evaluate the antioxidantive potential of alveolar surfactant. Supported by BMFT Project “Risikoneugeborenes”.
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