Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
1
pubmed:dateCreated
2001-12-25
pubmed:abstractText
Although it is clearly established that surfactant protein A (SP-A) is secreted by type II pneumocytes as a component of pulmonary surfactant, its secretion pathway as well as its subcellular localization in the human lung are uncertain. We therefore studied the intracellular and intra-alveolar localization of SP-A in eight adult human lungs by immunohistochemistry and immunoelectron microscopy. Only type II pneumocytes could be identified as SP-A positive cells within the parenchymal region. SP-A was localized mainly in small vesicles and multivesicular bodies close to the apical plasma membrane. Only few lamellar bodies were weakly labeled at their outer membranes. Stereologic analysis showed this weak signal to be due to specific labeling. In the alveolar space, lamellar body-like surfactant forms in close proximity to tubular myelin were labeled for SP-A at their periphery. The strongest SP-A labeling was found over tubular myelin figures. Labeling for SP-A was also found in close association with the surface film and unilamellar vesicles. Our results support the hypothesis that, in the human lung, SP-A is mainly secreted into the alveolar space via an alternative pathway that largely bypasses the lamellar bodies. After secretion, the outer membranes of unwinding lamellar bodies become enriched with SP-A when tubular myelin formation is initiated. SP-A may also be involved in the transition of tubular myelin into the surface film.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Jan
pubmed:issn
1044-1549
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
26
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
91-8
pubmed:dateRevised
2004-11-17
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2002
pubmed:articleTitle
Intracellular and intraalveolar localization of surfactant protein A (SP-A) in the parenchymal region of the human lung.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Anatomy, Division of Electron Microscopy, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article