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Surfactant protein SP-A is a hydrophilic glycoprotein, similar to SP-D, which plays an important role in pulmonary surfactant homeostasis and innate immunity. SP-A is actively expressed in the alveolar type II cells and Clara cells. Their basic structure consists of triple-helical collagen region and a C-terminal carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD). By binding to the infectious microbes, SP-A (like SP-D) are involved in pathogen opsonization and agglutination and subsequent clearance of the microorganism, via recruitment of phagocytic cells via receptors for the collagen region. SP-A has also been localized at extra-pulmonary sites such as salivary epithelium, amniotic fluid, prostate glands, and semen. The presence of SP-A in fetal and maternal tissue and amniotic fluid suggests it is involved in pregnancy and labor. Native SP-A can be purified from amniotic fluid and bronchiolar lavage fluid (BALF) via affinity chromatography. In addition, we also report here a procedure to express and purify a recombinant form of trimeric CRD in Escherichia coli. The availability of highly pure native SP-A and CRD region can be central to studies that examine the diverse roles that SP-A play in surfactant homeostasis, pulmonary infection and inflammation and pregnancy.

Original publication

DOI

10.1007/978-1-62703-724-2_21

Type

Journal article

Journal

Methods Mol Biol

Publication Date

2014

Volume

1100

Pages

257 - 272

Keywords

Amniotic Fluid, Batch Cell Culture Techniques, Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid, Chromatography, Affinity, Escherichia coli, Gene Expression, Humans, Protein Denaturation, Protein Refolding, Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein A, Recombinant Proteins