A theoretical study of diffusional transport over the alveolar surfactant layer

Factors influencing airway smooth muscle tone: a comprehensive review with a special emphasis on pulmonary surfactant

A thin film of pulmonary surfactant lines the surface of the airways and alveoli, where it lowers the surface tension in the peripheral lungs, preventing collapse of the bronchioles and alveoli and reducing the work of breathing. It also possesses a barrier function for maintaining the blood-gas interface of the lungs and plays an important role in innate immunity. The surfactant film covers the epithelium lining both large and small airways, forming the first line of defense between toxic airborne particles/pathogens and the lungs. Furthermore, surfactant has been shown to relax airway smooth muscle (ASM) after exposure to ASM agonists, suggesting a more subtle function. Whether surfactant masks irritant sensory receptors or interacts with one of them is not known. The relaxant effect of surfactant on ASM is absent in bronchial tissues denuded of an epithelial layer. Blocking of prostanoid synthesis inhibits the relaxant function of surfactant, indicating that prostanoids might be involved. Another possibility for surfactant to be active, namely through ATP-dependent potassium channels and the cAMP-regulated epithelial chloride channels [cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulators (CFTRs)], was tested but could not be confirmed. Hence, this review discusses the mechanisms of known and potential relaxant effects of pulmonary surfactant on ASM. This review summarizes what is known about the role of surfactant in smooth muscle physiology and explores the scientific questions and studies needed to fully understand how surfactant helps maintain the delicate balance between relaxant and constrictor needs.

The ultrastructural heterogeneity of lung surfactant revealed by serial section electron tomography: Insights into the 3D architecture of human tubular myelin

Weibel's hypothetical 3D model in 1966 provided first ultrastructural details into tubular myelin (TM), a unique, complex surfactant subtype found in the hypophase of the alveolar lining layer. Although initial descriptions by electron microscopy (EM) were already published in the 1950s, a uniform morphological differentiation from other intraalveolar surfactant subtypes is still missing and potential structure-function relationships remain enigmatic. Technical developments in volume EM methods now allow a more detailed reinvestigation. To address unanswered ultrastructural questions, we analyzed ultrathin sections of humanized SP-A1/SP-A2 co-expressing mouse as well as human lung samples by conventional transmission EM. We combined these 2D information with 3D analysis of single- and dual-axis electron tomography of serial sections for high z-resolution (in a range of a few nm) and extended volumes of up to 1 µm total z-information. This study reveals that TM constitutes a heterogeneous surfactant organization mainly comprised of distorted parallel membrane planes with local intersections, which are distributed all over the TM substructure. These intersecting membrane planes form, among other various polygons, the well-known 2D "lattice", respectively 3D quadratic tubules, which in many analyzed spots of human alveoli appear to be less abundant than also observed non-concentric 3D lamellae. The additional application of serial section electron tomography to conventional transmission EM demonstrates a high heterogeneity of TM membrane networks, which indicates dynamic transformations between its substructures. Our method provides an ideal basis for further in and ex vivo structural analyses of surfactant under various conditions at nanometer scale.

Synthesis and characterization of geminis and implications of their micellar solution on ninhydrin and metal amino acid complex

In our study, three gemini dicationic surfactants with different methylene group spacer (16-6-16, 16-5-16 and 16-4-16) have been synthesized and characterized in solution by 1H NMR spectroscopic technique. The implications of gemini micellar solution on ninhydrin and metal amino acid complex ([Cu(II)-Trp]+) were performed by the means of single-beam UV-visible spectroscopy. The absorbance was noted at regular time intervals and values of rate constant (kψ ) were determined by using a computer-based program. Synthesized surfactants proved as an efficient catalyst on the interaction of ninhydrin with metal amino acid complex as compared with conventional surfactant and aqueous systems. The required description regarding the implications of gemini dicationic surfactants are provided in the text in detail. The conductivity technique was applied in order to get critical micelle concentration (cmc) of geminis in the presence and absence of reactants. Catalytic results developed in gemini dicationic surfactant system were explained effectively by pseudo-phase model. Various thermodynamic quantities, viz., activation energy, E a, activation enthalpy, ΔH #, and activation entropy, ΔS #, were obtained on interaction of ninhydrin with [Cu(II)-Trp]+ in gemini systems by applying Eyring equation. A detailed explanation about these evaluated parameters was also made.

Graphene-based sensing of oxygen transport through pulmonary membranes

Lipid-protein complexes are the basis of pulmonary surfactants covering the respiratory surface and mediating gas exchange in lungs. Cardiolipin is a mitochondrial lipid overexpressed in mammalian lungs infected by bacterial pneumonia. In addition, increased oxygen supply (hyperoxia) is a pathological factor also critical in bacterial pneumonia. In this paper we fabricate a micrometer-size graphene-based sensor to measure oxygen permeation through pulmonary membranes. Combining oxygen sensing, X-ray scattering, and Atomic Force Microscopy, we show that mammalian pulmonary membranes suffer a structural transformation induced by cardiolipin. We observe that cardiolipin promotes the formation of periodic protein-free inter-membrane contacts with rhombohedral symmetry. Membrane contacts, or stalks, promote a significant increase in oxygen gas permeation which may bear significance for alveoli gas exchange imbalance in pneumonia.

Nature-Inspired Design and Application of Lipidic Lyotropic Liquid Crystals

Amphiphilic lipids aggregate in aqueous solution into a variety of structural arrangements. Among the plethora of ordered structures that have been reported, many have also been observed in nature. In addition, due to their unique morphologies, the hydrophilic and hydrophobic domains, very high internal interfacial surface area, and the multitude of possible order-order transitions depending on environmental changes, very promising applications have been developed for these systems in recent years. These include crystallization in inverse bicontinuous cubic phases for membrane protein structure determination, generation of advanced materials, sustained release of bioactive molecules, and control of chemical reactions. The outstanding diverse functionalities of lyotropic liquid crystalline phases found in nature and industry are closely related to the topology, including how their nanoscopic domains are organized. This leads to notable examples of correlation between structure and macroscopic properties, which is itself central to the performance of materials in general. The physical origin of the formation of the known classes of lipidic lyotropic liquid crystalline phases, their structure, and their occurrence in nature are described, and their application in materials science and engineering, biology, medical, and pharmaceutical products, and food science and technology are exemplified.

The Impact of Nonequilibrium Conditions in Lung Surfactant: Structure and Composition Gradients in Multilamellar Films

The lipid-protein mixture that covers the lung alveoli, lung surfactant, ensures mechanical robustness and controls gas transport during breathing. Lung surfactant is located at an interface between water-rich tissue and humid, but not fully saturated, air. The resulting humidity difference places the lung surfactant film out of thermodynamic equilibrium, which triggers the buildup of a water gradient. Here, we present a millifluidic method to assemble multilamellar interfacial films from vesicular dispersions of a clinical lung surfactant extract used in replacement therapy. Using small-angle X-ray scattering, infrared, Raman, and optical microscopies, we show that the interfacial film consists of several coexisting lamellar phases displaying a substantial variation in water swelling. This complex phase behavior contrasts to observations made under equilibrium conditions. We demonstrate that this disparity stems from additional lipid and protein gradients originating from differences in their transport properties. Supplementing the extract with cholesterol, to levels similar to the endogenous lung surfactant, dispels this complexity. We observed a homogeneous multilayer structure consisting of a single lamellar phase exhibiting negligible variations in swelling in the water gradient. Our results demonstrate the necessity of considering nonequilibrium thermodynamic conditions to study the structure of lung surfactant multilayer films, which is not accessible in bulk or monolayer studies. Our reconstitution methodology also opens avenues for lung surfactant pharmaceuticals and the understanding of composition, structure, and property relationships at biological air-liquid interfaces.

Effect of cholesterol on the molecular structure and transitions in a clinical-grade lung surfactant extract

The lipid-protein film covering the interface of the lung alveolar in mammals is vital for proper lung function and its deficiency is related to a range of diseases. Here we present a molecular-level characterization of a clinical-grade porcine lung surfactant extract using a multitechnique approach consisting of [Formula: see text]-[Formula: see text] solid-state nuclear magnetic spectroscopy, small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering, and mass spectrometry. The detailed characterization presented for reconstituted membranes of a lung extract demonstrates that the molecular structure of lung surfactant strongly depends on the concentration of cholesterol. If cholesterol makes up about 11% of the total dry weight of lung surfactant, the surfactant extract adopts a single liquid-ordered lamellar phase, [Formula: see text], at physiological temperatures. This [Formula: see text] phase gradually changes into a liquid-disordered lamellar phase, [Formula: see text], when the temperature is increased by a few degrees. In the absence of cholesterol the system segregates into one lamellar gel phase and one [Formula: see text] phase. Remarkably, it was possible to measure a large set of order parameter magnitudes [Formula: see text] from the liquid-disordered and -ordered lamellar phases and assign them to specific C-H bonds of the phospholipids in the biological extract with no use of isotopic labeling. These findings with molecular details on lung surfactant mixtures together with the presented NMR methodology may guide further development of pulmonary surfactant pharmaceuticals that better mimic the physiological self-assembly compositions for treatment of pathological states such as respiratory distress syndrome.

Molecular dynamics of dibenz[a,h]anthracene and its metabolite interacting with lung surfactant phospholipid bilayers

Dibenz[a,h]anthracene and its metabolite may form aggregates, which have implications in the clearance process of the lung surfactant phospholipid bilayers.

Periodic minimal surface organizations of the lipid bilayer at the lung surface and in cubic cytomembrane assemblies

The existence of infinite periodic lipid bilayer structures in biological systems was first demonstrated in cell membrane assemblies. Such periodicity is only possible in symmetric bilayers, and their occurrence is discussed here in relation to the asymmetry of cell membranes in vivo. A periodic membrane conformation in the prolamellar body of plants corresponds to a dormant state without photosynthesis. A similar reversible formation of a dormant state has also been observed in the mitochondria of the amoeba Chaos. In these cases the energy production has become insufficient to maintain the membrane asymmetry. Formation of membranes that are symmetric over the bilayer is proposed to be a principal mechanism behind formation of cubic membrane systems. Another type of bicontinuous minimal surface structure is considered to form the alveolar lining of mammals at normal breathing conditions. The CLP surface corresponds to such a tetragonal surface phase. It is also a symmetric bilayer and in a state of zero energy expenditure. Structural alternatives of the bilayer conformation in this latter system are also discussed here.

Lipid phase behaviour under steady state conditions

At the interface between two regions, for example the air-liquid interface of a lipid solution, there can arise non-equilibrium situations. The water chemical potential corresponding to the ambient RH will, in general, not match the water chemical potential of the solution, and the gradients in chemical potential cause diffusional flows. If the bulk water chemical potential is close to a phase transition, there is the possibility of forming an interfacial phase with structures qualitatively different from those found in the bulk. Based on a previous analysis of this phenomenon in two component systems (C. Aberg, E. Sparr, K. J. Edler and H. Wennerström, Langmuir, 2009, 25, 12177), we here analyse the henomenon for three-component systems. The relevant transport equations are erived, and explicit results are given for some limiting cases. Then the formalism s applied conceptually to four different aqueous lipid systems, which in addition to water and a phospholipid contain (i) octyl glucoside, (ii) urea, (iii) heavy water, and (iv) sodium cholate as the third component. These four cases are chosen to illustrate (i) a method to use a micelle former to transport lipid to the interface where a multi-lamellar structure can form; (ii) to use a co-solvent to inhibit the formation of a gel phase at the interface; (iii) a method to form pure phospholipid multi-lamellar structures at the interface; (iv) a method to form a sequence of phases in the interfacial region. These four cases all have the character of theoretically based conjectures and it remains to investigate experimentally whether or not the conditions can be realized in practice.