Tissue distribution of surfactant proteins A and D in the mouse. |
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| Authors: | Jennifer Akiyama Ari Hoffman Cynthia Brown Lennell Allen Jess Edmondson Francis Poulain Samuel Hawgood |
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| Institution: | Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA. |
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| Abstract: | Surfactant proteins A and D, collagen-like lectins (collectins), were first isolated from the lung. In the lung, SP-A and SP-D have roles in surfactant homeostasis and innate immunity. In this study we show that SP-A and SP-D mRNA can be detected in a significant number of non-pulmonary tissues but the proteins have a more limited distribution. SP-D protein was detected in lung, uterus, ovary, and lacrimal gland, whereas SP-A protein was detected only in the lung. The results suggest that SP-D participates in mucosal immunity throughout the body. |
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