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Structural highlights

Disease

PSPB_HUMAN Defects in SFTPB are the cause of pulmonary surfactant metabolism dysfunction type 1 (SMDP1) [MIM:265120; also called pulmonary alveolar proteinosis due to surfactant protein B deficiency. A rare lung disorder due to impaired surfactant homeostasis. It is characterized by alveolar filling with floccular material that stains positive using the periodic acid-Schiff method and is derived from surfactant phospholipids and protein components. Excessive lipoproteins accumulation in the alveoli results in severe respiratory distress.^[1] Genetic variations in SFTPB are a cause of susceptibility to respiratory distress syndrome in premature infants (RDS) [MIM:267450. RDS is a lung disease affecting usually premature newborn infants. It is characterized by deficient gas exchange, diffuse atelectasis, high-permeability lung edema and fibrin-rich alveolar deposits called 'hyaline membranes'. Note=A variation Ile to Thr at position 131 influences the association between specific alleles of SFTPA1 and respiratory distress syndrome in premature infants.^[2]

Function

PSPB_HUMAN Pulmonary surfactant-associated proteins promote alveolar stability by lowering the surface tension at the air-liquid interface in the peripheral air spaces. SP-B increases the collapse pressure of palmitic acid to nearly 70 millinewtons per meter.

References

1. ↑ Ballard PL, Nogee LM, Beers MF, Ballard RA, Planer BC, Polk L, deMello DE, Moxley MA, Longmore WJ. Partial deficiency of surfactant protein B in an infant with chronic lung disease. Pediatrics. 1995 Dec;96(6):1046-52. PMID:7491219
2. ↑ Haataja R, Ramet M, Marttila R, Hallman M. Surfactant proteins A and B as interactive genetic determinants of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome. Hum Mol Genet. 2000 Nov 1;9(18):2751-60. PMID:11063734