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lung surfactant |
Also found in: Wikipedia, Hutchinson | 0.03 sec. |
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lung surfactant, a detergent-like agent that reduces the surface tension of the liquid film covering the inner lining of the pulmonary alveoli. As an alveolus becomes smaller during expiration, the surfactant becomes more concentrated, further reducing the surface tension and preventing alveolar collapse. How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content. |
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| Lung surfactant is known to modulate immune functions in the lung (Wright 1997); we mention its role in particular because we have some preliminary data to suggest that lung surfactant may enhance cytokine production in the lung fibroblasts. Discovery's Surfaxin is an engineered version of natural human lung surfactant and contains a peptide, sinapultide, that is designed to closely mimic the essential human lung surfactant protein B (SP-B). A respiratory disease of newborns, especially premature infants, characterized by reduced amounts of lung surfactant, cyanosis, the formation of a glassy membrane over the alveoli, and pulmonary collapse. |
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