The role of pulmonary surfactant in obstructive airways disease

Pulmonary surfactant research has an increasing impact on treatment considerations in adult respiratory disorders, above all acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Obstructive airways diseases have only been sporadically addressed in this respect. In the last decade, direct and circumstantial evidence for surfactant as a contributing factor in the regulation of airway calibre has emerged. Morphologically, a bronchiolar surfactant layer has been demonstrated, whereby the airways are mostly supplied by alveolar surfactant components via the mucociliary escalator. Functionally, prevention of airway film collapse and collapse of the airway walls are important surfactant properties in maintaining airway stability. In addition to its surface activity, airway surfactant improves bronchial clearance and regulates airway liquid balance, thus indirectly modulating airway wall thickness and airway diameter. Surfactant has furthermore been shown to modulate the function of respiratory inflammatory cells. Its immunomodulatory activity includes suppression of cytokine secretion and transcription factor activation. This may be of importance in the inflammatory network of asthma. Thus, dysfunction of surfactant in obstructive lung disease might be one of the mechanisms leading to increased airway resistance, which is commonly thought to be due to narrowing of airways under humoral and nervous control. In animal models of asthma, surfactant dysfunction was demonstrated, which was possibly due to protein inhibition. Furthermore, surfactant therapy seems to be capable of preventing allergen-induced bronchoconstriction. Human studies on surfactant impairment in obstructive airways diseases are still scarce but the data available are consistent with animal studies. Antiobstructive pharmacotherapy, mainly with corticosteroids, might influence and improve airway surfactant balance, but the exact mechanisms and the overall effect of pharmacotherapy on surfactant function in obstructive airways disease has to be further elucidated. Our knowledge about the role of pulmonary surfactant in obstructive airways disease is still limited, but there is convincing evidence that pulmonary surfactant plays a role in keeping the airways open.

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