Decreased Contents of Surfactant Proteins A and D in BAL Fluids of Healthy Smokers

¹ From the Third Department of Internal Medicine and the Department of Biochemistry, Sapporo Medical University, School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan

Hydrophilic surfactant proteins, surfactant protein A (SP-A) and surfactant protein D (SP-D), have important roles in modulating the host defense functions in the peripheral airways. It has been reported that cigarette smoke may alter the component and function of pulmonary surfactant. In this study, we determined the contents of SP-A and SP-D in BAL fluids of healthy smokers and nonsmokers by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using monoclonal antibodies against each protein. The contents of SP-A and SP-D in BAL fluids were significantly (p<0.05) decreased in smokers compared to those in nonsmokers, although there was no significant difference of total phospholipid content between smokers and nonsmokers. These results suggest that the decreased levels of SP-A and SP-D in smokers may impair the host defense functions of surfactant in the peripheral airways and might have a crucial role in the development of chronic obstructive lung disease.

Key Words: bronchoalveolar lavage fluid • pulmonary surfactant • smoking • surfactant protein A • surfactant protein D

Submitted on July 5, 1995
Accepted on September 27, 2007

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