Pulmonary surfactant function is abolished by an elevated proportion of cholesterol

Effect of Serum, Cholesterol and Low Density Lipoprotein on the Functionality and Structure of Lung Surfactant Films

“…chains were more gel-like or rigid with trans-conformation 9,15 . The effects of serum, cholesterol, and LDL on BLES however were not seen quite clearly from Fig.…”

“…It is not clearly known what the major role of the lipid is in LS function, let alone in dysfunction. In the studies by Gunasekara et al 9 , it has clearly been shown that a normal amount of cholesterol does not affect the surface activity of LS. Others have shown that cholesterol actually allows the formation of a specific monolayer to bilayer squeeze-out phases 9 , as well as allowing the function of surfactant proteins SP-B and SP-C by forming lipid-raft like structures 43 .…”

“…The wave number of the ν s CH 2 2850 cm 1 was plotted against temperature for the average of three independent experiments and the error bars represent standard deviation. These plots can suggest the order parameters of the phospholipid chains as discussed in details elsewhere 9,15 .…”

“…Previous studies have shown that cholesterol is an integral component of LS, found between 7-15 in various mammalian systems 9,10,39,43,44 . However, the physiological role of cholesterol is not clear to date, since the source of the material as well as its delivery route in LS has not been firmly established.…”

“…Previous studies have shown that cholesterol present in LS in physiological amounts has no deleterious effect on LS function 9 . However in ARDS and ALI some serum materials, which leak from the capillaries into the fluid lining of the lung, inactivates LS.…”