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synthetic surfactants as well as anti-inflammato- ry agents in acute lung injury induced by mechan- ical ventilation (CRP on Acute Lung Injury).
This research has direct relevance for the devel- opment of new therapies for inflammatory and infectious lung diseases.
Most relevant scientific articles
Research Groups
Coya J.M., aKinBi h.t., saenz a., yang L., Weaver t.e., CasaLs C.. Natural anti-infective pulmonary proteins: In vivo cooperative action of surfactant protein SP-A and the lung antimicrobial peptide SP-BN. Journal of Immunology. 2015;195(4):1628-1636.
saenz a., Presto J., Lara P., aKinyi-oLoo L., garCía-Fo- JeDa B., niLsson i. et aL. Folding and intramembraneous BRICHOS binding of the prosurfactant protein C trans- membrane segment. Journal of Biológical Chemistry. 2015;290(28):17628-17641.
Highlights
RELEVANT RESEARCH PROJECT: SAF2012- 32728 (2013-2015) Lung surfactant as protector and modulator of lung infection and inflammation. Funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness. Principal Investigator: Cristina Casals.
RELEVANT RESULTS:
Line 1: We demonstrated that (i) anionic phospholip- ids exert an immunomodulatory effect on alveolar macrophages and pneumocytes in the presence of LPS, respiratory syncytial virus, or H. influenzae; and (ii) SP-A enhances IL-4-induced macrophage prolif- eration and alternative activation, revealing an im- portant role in respiratory diseases with high levels of IL-4, such as asthma or pulmonary fibrosis.
Line 2: We demonstrated that (i) SP-A and SP-BN, present in the alveolar fluid, exhibit a synergic mi- crobicidal activity against K. pneumoniae K2; and (ii) the therapeutic co-administration of both proteins reduces infection and enhances immune response in a mouse model of K. pneumoniae K2 infection.
Line 3: We demonstrated that beta-glucans, the ma- jor structural components of the cell wall of many pathogenic fungi, inhibit the surface activity of pul- monary surfactant. This effect is prevented by the binding of SP-A to beta-glucan.
Line 4: We demonstrated that the interaction of SP-A with different nanoparticles that can be used as theranostic systems alters the nanomaterial bio- distribution, favoring, in some cases, their retention in the lung.
DOCTORAL THESIS: 25/02/2015. Juan Manuel Coya Raboso. “Synergic activity of surfactant pro- tein A (SP-A) and antimicrobial peptides in defense of the lung against infection”. Complutense Uni- versity of Madrid. Doctoral Program: Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biomedicine (“Mention of Ex- cellence” by the Ministry of Science and Education). Evaluation: Excellent “cum laude”. Director: Dr. Cristi- na Casals and Alejandra Sáenz.
INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION: 1) Prof. Dr. Timothy Weaver, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital (Ohio, USA); 2) Prof. Dr. Jan Johansson, Karolinska Institute (Stockholm Sweden); 3) Prof. Dr. Claus-Mi- chael Lehr, Saarland University (Saarbrücken, Ger- many); 4) Prof. Dr. Judith E. Allen, University of Ed- inburgh (U.K.).
Institution: Universidad Complutense de Madrid · Contact: Facultad de Biología · Ciudad Universitaria, S/N 28040 Madrid · Tel.: 91 394 42 61 · E.mail: [email protected]
Website: http://pendientedemigracion.ucm.es/info/respira
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