Comparison of lipid aggregation and self-aggregation activities of pulmonary surfactant-associated protein A

The collectin SP-A and its trimeric recombinant fragment protect alveolar epithelial cells from the cytotoxic and proinflammatory effects of human cathelicidin in vitro

Human cathelicidin (LL-37) is a defense peptide with antimicrobial activity against various pathogens. However, LL-37 can also trigger tissue injury by binding to host cell membranes. The cytotoxic effects of LL-37 may be especially relevant in chronic respiratory diseases characterized by increased LL-37. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the human collectin SP-A and a trimeric recombinant fragment thereof (rfhSP-A) can regulate the activities of LL-37. To this end, we studied the interaction of LL-37 with SP-A and rfhSP-A by intrinsic fluorescence, dynamic light scattering, and circular dichroism, as well as the effects of these proteins on the antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of LL-37. Both SP-A and rfhSP-A bound LL-37 with high affinity at physiological ionic strength (K_D = 0.45 ± 0.01 nM for SP-A and 1.22 ± 0.7 nM for rfhSP-A). Such interactions result in the reduction of LL-37-induced cell permeability and IL-8 release in human pneumocytes, mediated by P2X7 channels. Binding of LL-37 to SP-A did not modify the properties of SP-A or the antibacterial activity of LL-37 against respiratory pathogens (Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae). SP-A/LL-37 complexes showed a greater ability to aggregate LPS vesicles than LL-37, which reduces endotoxin bioactivity. These results reveal the protective role of native SP-A in controlling LL-37 activities and suggest a potential therapeutic effect of rfhSP-A in reducing the cytotoxic and inflammatory actions of LL-37, without affecting its microbicidal activity against Gram-negative pathogens.

Composition, structure and mechanical properties define performance of pulmonary surfactant membranes and films

The respiratory surface in the mammalian lung is stabilized by pulmonary surfactant, a membrane-based system composed of multiple lipids and specific proteins, the primary function of which is to minimize the surface tension at the alveolar air-liquid interface, optimizing the mechanics of breathing and avoiding alveolar collapse, especially at the end of expiration. The goal of the present review is to summarize current knowledge regarding the structure, lipid-protein interactions and mechanical features of surfactant membranes and films and how these properties correlate with surfactant biological function inside the lungs. Surfactant mechanical properties can be severely compromised by different agents, which lead to surfactant inhibition and ultimately contributes to the development of pulmonary disorders and pathologies in newborns, children and adults. A detailed comprehension of the unique mechanical and rheological properties of surfactant layers is crucial for the diagnostics and treatment of lung diseases, either by analyzing the contribution of surfactant impairment to the pathophysiology or by improving the formulations in surfactant replacement therapies. Finally, a short review is also included on the most relevant experimental techniques currently employed to evaluate lung surfactant mechanics, rheology, and inhibition and reactivation processes.

Assessment of surfactant protein A (SP-A) dependent agglutination

BACKGROUND

Monomers of the collectin surfactant associated protein-A (SP-A) are arranged in trimers and higher oligomers. The state of oligomerization differs between individuals and likely affects SP-A's functional properties. SP-A can form aggregates together with other SP-A molecules. Here we report and assess a test system for the aggregate forming properties of SP-A in serum and broncho-alveolar lavage samples.

METHODS

Anti-SP-A antibodies fixed to latex beads bound SP-A at its N-terminal end and allowed the interaction with other SP-A molecules in a given sample by their C-terminal carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD) to agglutinate the beads to aggregates, which were quantified by light microscopy.

RESULTS

SP-A aggregation was dependent on its concentration, the presence of calcium, and was dose-dependently inhibited by mannose. Unaffected by the presence of SP-D no aggregation was observed in absence of SP-A. The more complex the oligomeric structure of SP-A present in a particular sample, the better was its capability to induce aggregation at a given total concentration of SP-A. SP-A in serum agglutinated independently of the pulmonary disease; in contrast SP-A in lung lavage fluid was clearly inferior in patients with chronic bronchitis and particularly with cystic fibrosis compared to controls.

CONCLUSIONS

The functional status of SP-A with respect to its aggregating properties in serum and lavage samples can be easily assessed. SP-A in lung lavage fluid in patients with severe neutrophilic bronchitis was inferior.

Structure of pulmonary surfactant membranes and films: the role of proteins and lipid-protein interactions

The pulmonary surfactant system constitutes an excellent example of how dynamic membrane polymorphism governs some biological functions through specific lipid-lipid, lipid-protein and protein-protein interactions assembled in highly differentiated cells. Lipid-protein surfactant complexes are assembled in alveolar pneumocytes in the form of tightly packed membranes, which are stored in specialized organelles called lamellar bodies (LB). Upon secretion of LBs, surfactant develops a membrane-based network that covers rapidly and efficiently the whole respiratory surface. This membrane-based surface layer is organized in a way that permits efficient gas exchange while optimizing the encounter of many different molecules and cells at the epithelial surface, in a cross-talk essential to keep the whole organism safe from potential pathogenic invaders. The present review summarizes what is known about the structure of the different forms of surfactant, with special emphasis on current models of the molecular organization of surfactant membrane components. The architecture and the behaviour shown by surfactant structures in vivo are interpreted, to some extent, from the interactions and the properties exhibited by different surfactant models as they have been studied in vitro, particularly addressing the possible role played by surfactant proteins. However, the limitations in structural complexity and biophysical performance of surfactant preparations reconstituted in vitro will be highlighted in particular, to allow for a proper evaluation of the significance of the experimental model systems used so far to study structure-function relationships in surfactant, and to define future challenges in the design and production of more efficient clinical surfactants.

Surfactant protein A forms extensive lattice-like structures on 1,2-dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine/rough-lipopolysaccharide-mixed monolayers

Due to the inhalation of airborne particles containing bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), these molecules might incorporate into the 1,2-dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC)-rich monolayer and interact with surfactant protein A (SP-A), the major surfactant protein component involved in host defense. In this study, epifluorescence microscopy combined with a surface balance was used to examine the interaction of SP-A with mixed monolayers of DPPC/rough LPS (Re-LPS). Binary monolayers of Re-LPS plus DPPC showed negative deviations from ideal behavior of the mean areas in the films consistent with partial miscibility and attractive interaction between the lipids. This interaction resulted in rearrangement and reduction of the size of DPPC-rich solid domains in DPPC/Re-LPS monolayers. The adsorption of SP-A to these monolayers caused expansion in the lipid molecular areas. SP-A interacted strongly with Re-LPS and promoted the formation of DPPC-rich solid domains. Fluorescently labeled Texas red-SP-A accumulated at the fluid-solid boundary regions and formed networks of interconnected filaments in the fluid phase of DPPC/Re-LPS monolayers in a Ca(2+)-independent manner. These lattice-like structures were also observed when TR-SP-A interacted with lipid A monolayers. These novel results deepen our understanding of the specific interaction of SP-A with the lipid A moiety of bacterial LPS.

Structural and functional differences among human surfactant proteins SP-A1, SP-A2 and co-expressed SP-A1/SP-A2: role of supratrimeric oligomerization

SP-A (surfactant protein A) is a membrane-associated SP that helps to maintain the lung in a sterile and non-inflamed state. Unlike SP-As from other mammalian species, human SP-A consists of two functional gene products: SP-A1 and SP-A2. In all the functions examined, recombinant human SP-A1 invariably exhibits lower biological activity than SP-A2. The objective of the present study was to investigate why SP-A2 possesses greater biological activity than SP-A1 and what advantage accrues to having two polypeptide chains instead of one. We analysed structural and functional characteristics of recombinant baculovirus-derived SP-A1, SP-A2 and co-expressed SP-A1/SP-A2 using a wide array of experimental approaches such as analytical ultracentrifugation, DSC (differential scanning calorimetry) and fluorescence. We found that the extent of supratrimeric assembly is much lower in SP-A1 than SP-A2. However, the resistance to proteolysis is greater for SP-A1 than for SP-A2. Co-expressed SP-A1/SP-A2 had greater thermal stability than SP-A1 and SP-A2 and exhibited properties of each protein. On the one hand, SP-A1/SP-A2, like SP-A2, had a higher degree of oligomerization than SP-A1, and consequently had lower K(d) for binding to bacterial Re-LPS (rough lipopolysaccharide), higher self-association in the presence of calcium and greater capability to aggregate Re-LPS and phospholipids than SP-A1. On the other hand, SP-A1/SP-A2, like SP-A1, was more resistant to trypsin degradation than SP-A2. Finally, the importance of the supratrimeric assembly for SP-A immunomodulatory function is discussed.

Interaction of SP-A (surfactant protein A) with bacterial rough lipopolysaccharide (Re-LPS), and effects of SP-A on the binding of Re-LPS to CD14 and LPS-binding protein

SP-A (surfactant protein A) is a lipid-binding collectin primarily involved in innate lung immunity. SP-A interacts with the bacterial rough LPS (lipopolysaccharide) Re-LPS (Re595 mutant of LPS from Salmonella minnesota), but not with smooth LPS. In the present study, we first examined the characteristics of the interaction of human SP-A with Re-LPS. Fluorescence intensity and anisotropy measurements of FITC-labelled Re-LPS in the presence and absence of SP-A indicated that SP-A bound to Re-LPS in solution in a Ca2+-independent manner, with a dissociation constant of 2.8x10(-8) M. In the presence of calcium, a high-mobility complex of SP-A and [3H]Rb-LPS (Rb mutant of LPS from Escherichia coli strain LCD 25) micelles was formed, as detected by sucrose density gradients. Re-LPS aggregation induced by SP-A was further characterized by light scattering. On the other hand, human SP-A inhibited TNF-alpha (tumour necrosis factor-alpha) secretion by human macrophage-like U937 cells stimulated with either Re-LPS or smooth LPS. We further examined the effects of human SP-A on the binding of Re-LPS to LBP (LPS-binding protein) and CD14. SP-A decreased the binding of Re-LPS to CD14, but not to LBP, as detected by cross-linking experiments with 125I-ASD-Re-LPS [125I-labelled sulphosuccinimidyl-2-(p-azidosalicylamido)-1,3-dithiopropionate derivative of Re-LPS] and fluorescence analysis with FITC-Re-LPS. When SP-A, LBP and CD14 were incubated together, SP-A reduced the ability of LBP to transfer 125I-ASD-Re-LPS to CD14. These SP-A effects were not due to the ability of SP-A to aggregate Re-LPS in the presence of calcium, since they were observed in both the absence and the presence of calcium. These studies suggest that SP-A could contribute to modulate Re-LPS responses by altering the competence of the LBP-CD14 receptor complex.

Surfactant protein D decreases pollen-induced IgE-dependent mast cell degranulation

Mast cells play a key role in allergy and asthma. They reside at the host-environment interface and are among the first cells to make contact with inhaled microorganisms and particulate antigens. Pulmonary surfactant proteins A and D (SP-A and SP-D) function in lung host defense by enhancing microbe phagocytosis and mediating other immune cell functions, but little is known about their effects on mast cells. We hypothesized that SP-A and/or SP-D modulate IgE-dependent mast cell functions. Pollen starch granules (PSG) extracted from Dactylis glomerata and coated with trinitrophenol (TNP) were used as a model of an inhaled organic particulate allergen. Our data revealed that SP-D inhibited by 50% the release of beta-hexosaminidase by peritoneal mast cells sensitized with IgE anti-TNP and stimulated with TNP-PSG. In contrast, SP-A had no effect. Furthermore, SP-D aggregated PSG in a dose-dependent manner, and this aggregation was mediated by SP-D's carbohydrate recognition domain. A single arm SP-D mutant (RrSP-Dser15,20) neither aggregated PSG nor inhibited degranulation, suggesting that multimerization of SP-D is required for maximal PSG aggregation and inhibition of PSG-induced mast cell degranulation. This study is the first to demonstrate that SP-D modulates IgE-mediated mast cell functions, which are important in asthma and allergic inflammation.

Role of the degree of oligomerization in the structure and function of human surfactant protein A

The role of the degree of oligomerization in the structure and function of human surfactant protein A (SP-A) was investigated using a human SP-A1 mutant (SP-A1(DeltaAVC,C6S)), expressed in mammalian cells, resulting from site-directed substitution of serine for Cys(6) and substitution of a functional signal peptide for the cysteine-containing SP-A signal sequence. This Cys(6) mutant lacked the NH(2)-terminal Ala(-3)-Val(-2)-Cys(-1) (DeltaAVC) extension present in some SP-A1 isoforms. SP-A1(DeltaAVC,C6S) was assembled exclusively as trimers as detected by electron microscopy and size exclusion chromatography. Trimeric SP-A1(DeltaAVC,C6S) was compared with supratrimeric SP-A1, which is structurally and functionally comparable to the octadecameric protein isolated from human lung lavages. SP-A1(DeltaAVC,C6S) showed reduced thermal stability of the collagen domain, studied by circular dichroism, and increased susceptibility to trypsin degradation. The T(m) was 32.7 degrees C for SP-A1(DeltaAVC,C6S) and 44.5 degrees C for SP-A1. Although SP-A1(DeltaAVC,C6S) was capable of binding to calcium, rough lipopolysaccharide, and phospholipid vesicles, this mutant was unable to induce rough lipopolysaccharide and phospholipid vesicle aggregation, to enhance the interfacial adsorption of SP-B/SP-C-surfactant membranes, and to undergo self-association in the presence of Ca(2+). On the other hand, the lack of supratrimeric assembly hardly affected the ability of SP-A1(DeltaAVC,C6S) to inhibit the production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha by macrophage-like U937 cells stimulated with either smooth or rough lipopolysaccharide. We conclude that supratrimeric assembly of human SP-A is essential for collagen triple helix stability at physiological temperatures, protection against proteases, protein self-association, and SP-A-induced ligand aggregation. The supratrimeric assembly is not essential for the binding of SP-A to ligands and anti-inflammatory effects of SP-A.

Effect of hydroxylation and N187-linked glycosylation on molecular and functional properties of recombinant human surfactant protein A

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of proline hydroxylation in the collagen-like domain and Asn(187)-linked glycosylation in the globular domain on the molecular and functional properties of human surfactant protein A1 (SP-A1). To address this issue, SP-A1 was in vitro expressed in insect and mammalian cells. Insect cells lack prolyl 4-hydroxylase activity. A glycosylation-deficient mutant SP-A1 was expressed in insect cells. In this report we present evidence that hydroxylation increased the T(m) of the collagen-like domain by 9 degrees C. Proline hydroxylation affected both the arrangement of disulfide bonding and the extent of oligomerization but did not affect conformational changes in the globular domain identified by intrinsic fluorescence. Both self-association and lipid-related functions of SP-A were clearly correlated with the thermal stability of the collagen domain and the degree of oligomerization. Structural properties and lipid-related characteristics of SP-A1 expressed in mammalian cells but not in insect cells were close to that of natural human SP-A. On the other hand, the lack of glycosylation did not affect either collagen domain stability or conformational changes induced by calcium in the globular domain. However, the lack of glycosylation favored nonspecific thermally induced aggregation of the protein.

Structural analysis and lipid-binding properties of recombinant human surfactant protein a derived from one or both genes

Surfactant protein A (SP-A) constitutes an important part of the innate immune defense in the lung. In humans there are two functional genes (SP-A1 and SP-A2). The functional importance of having two distinct chain types in human SP-A is undefined. Amino acid substitutions in the primary structure of the protein may have effects on structural stability or on activity. To address this issue, SP-A1, SP-A2, and coexpressed SP-A1/SP-A2 variants were in vitro expressed in insect cells, purified, and used for study. We found the following: (1) Human SP-A variants expressed in insect cells, derived from one gene (SP-A1 or SP-A2) or both genes, differ in the relative extent and heterogeneity of oligomerization. SP-A1 and SP-A2 exist in small oligomeric forms, whereas coexpressed SP-A1/SP-A2 products favor the formation of larger oligomers. (2) Circular dichroic and fluorescence spectroscopic studies identified structural differences between SP-A variants in the collagen domain, with SP-A2 being more stable than SP-A1 but not in the calcium binding region. Recombinant human SP-A variants expressed in insect cells exhibit a lower melting temperature compared to native human SP-A. Oligomerization does not increase the thermal stability of the collagen domain of coexpressed SP-A1/SP-A2. (3) The ability of SP-A to undergo self-aggregation and induce phospholipid and bacterial lipopolysaccharide aggregation is greater for SP-A2 than for coexpressed SP-A1/SP-A2, which in turn is greater than that observed for SP-A1. The presence of SP-A1 polypeptide chains in coexpressed products modulates functional capabilities of SP-A, which depend on both the collagen and globular domains.

Functional mapping of surfactant protein A

Surfactant protein A (SP-A) is a highly ordered, oligomeric glycoprotein that is secreted into the airspaces of the lung by alveolar type II cells and Clara cells of the pulmonary epithelium. Although research has shown that SP-A is both a calcium-dependent phospholipid-binding protein that affects surfactant structure and function and a lectin that opsonizes diverse microbial species, our understanding of the physiologically relevant roles of SP-A in the lung remains incomplete. My review focuses on the putative biological functions of SP-A that are supported by experiments in mammals and on the structural basis of SP-A function.

Domains of surfactant protein A that affect protein oligomerization, lipid structure and surface tension

Surfactant protein A (SP-A) is an abundant protein found in pulmonary surfactant which has been reported to have multiple functions. In this review, we focus on the structural importance of each domain of SP-A in the functions of protein oligomerization, the structural organization of lipids and the surface-active properties of surfactant, with an emphasis on ultrastructural analyses. The N-terminal domain of SP-A is required for disulfide-dependent protein oligomerization, and for binding and aggregation of phospholipids, but there is no evidence that this domain directly interacts with lipid membranes. The collagen-like domain is important for the stability and oligomerization of SP-A. It also contributes shape and dimension to the molecule, and appears to determine membrane spacing in lipid aggregates such as common myelin and tubular myelin. The neck domain of SP-A is primarily involved in protein trimerization, which is critical for many protein functions, but it does not appear to be directly involved in lipid interactions. The globular C-terminal domain of SP-A clearly plays a central role in lipid binding, and in more complex functions such as the formation and/or stabilization of curved membranes. In recent work, we have determined that the maintenance of low surface tension of surfactant in the presence of serum protein inhibitors requires cooperative interactions between the C-terminal and N-terminal domains of the molecule. This effect of SP-A requires a high degree of oligomeric assembly of the protein, and may be mediated by the activity of the protein to alter the form or physical state of surfactant lipid aggregates.

Pulmonary surfactant protein SP-B is significantly more immunoreactive in anionic than in zwitterionic bilayers

Binding of polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies, quantitated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, to porcine SP-B reconstituted in different phospholipid bilayers has been used to assess differences in protein structure due to lipid-protein interactions. SP-B bound significantly more antibodies when it was reconstituted in bilayers made of anionic phospholipids (phosphatidic acid, cardiolipin, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol or phosphatidylserine) than in zwitterionic bilayers (phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylcholine/cholesterol, or phosphatidylethanolamine) or in fatty acid micelles (made of salts of palmitic or stearic acids). These differences in immunoreactivity can be important in the development of quantitation methods for SP-B in clinical samples based on immunological techniques.

Structural characterisation of human proteinosis surfactant protein A

Human surfactant protein-A (SP-A) has been purified from a proteinosis patient and characterised by a combination of automated Edman degradation and mass spectrometry. The complete protein sequence was characterised. The major part of SP-A was shown to consist of SP-A2 gene product, and only a small amount of SP-A1 gene product was shown to be present. A cysteine extension to the N-terminal was indicated by sequence data, but was not definitely proven. All proline residues in the Y position of Gly-X-Y in the collagen-like region were at least partially modified to hydroxy-proline, but no lysine residues were found to be modified. A complex N-linked glycosylation was found on Asn-187 showing great heterogeneity as variants from a mono-antennary to penta-antennary glycosylation with varying amounts of attached pentose were identified. The disulfide bridges in the carbohydrate recognition domain were identified to be in the 1-4, 2-3 pattern common for collectins. Interchain disulfide bridges were discovered between two Cys-48 residues and cysteine residues in the N-terminal region. However, the exact disulfide bridge connections within the bouquet-like ultrastructure could not be established.

Pulmonary surfactant protein A interacts with gel-like regions in monolayers of pulmonary surfactant lipid extract

Epifluorescence microscopy was used to investigate the interaction of pulmonary surfactant protein A (SP-A) with spread monolayers of porcine surfactant lipid extract (PSLE) containing 1 mol % fluorescent probe (NBD-PC) spread on a saline subphase (145 mM NaCl, 5 mM Tris-HCl, pH 6.9) containing 0, 0.13, or 0.16 microg/ml SP-A and 0, 1.64, or 5 mM CaCl(2). In the absence of SP-A, no differences were noted in PSLE monolayers in the absence or presence of Ca(2+). Circular probe-excluded (dark) domains were observed against a fluorescent background at low surface pressures (pi approximately 5 mN/m) and the domains grew in size with increasing pi. Above 25 mN/m, the domain size decreased with increasing pi. The amount of observable dark phase was maximal at 18% of the total film area at pi approximately 25 mN/m, then decreased to approximately 3% at pi approximately 40 mN/m. The addition of 0.16 microg/ml SP-A with 0 or 1.64 mM Ca(2+) in the subphase caused an aggregation of dark domains into a loose network, and the total amount of dark phase was increased to approximately 25% between pi of 10-28 mN/m. Monolayer features in the presence of 5 mM Ca(2+) and SP-A were not substantially different from those spread in the absence of SP-A, likely due to a self-association and aggregation of SP-A in the presence of higher concentrations of Ca(2+). PSLE films were spread on a subphase containing 0.16 microg/ml SP-A with covalently bound Texas Red (TR-SP-A). In the absence of Ca(2+), TR-SP-A associated with the reorganized dark phase (as seen with the lipid probe). The presence of 5 mM Ca(2+) resulted in an appearance of TR-SP-A in the fluid phase and of aggregates at the fluid/gel phase boundaries of the monolayers. This study suggests that SP-A associates with PSLE monolayers, particularly with condensed or solid phase lipid, and results in some reorganization of rigid phase lipid in surfactant monolayers.

Differential effects of surfactant protein A on regional organization of phospholipid monolayers containing surfactant protein B or C

Epifluorescence microscopy combined with a surface balance was used to study monolayers of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC)/egg phosphatidylglycerol (PG) (8:2, mol/mol) plus 17 wt % SP-B or SP-C spread on subphases containing SP-A in the presence or absence of 5 mM Ca(2+). Independently of the presence of Ca(2+) in the subphase, SP-A at a bulk concentration of 0.68 microg/ml adsorbed into the spread monolayers and caused an increase in the molecular areas in the films. Films of DPPC/PG formed on SP-A solutions showed a pressure-dependent coexistence of liquid-condensed (LC) and liquid-expanded (LE) phases. Apart from these surface phases, a probe-excluding phase, likely enriched in SP-A, was seen in the films between 7 mN/m < or = pi < or = 20 mN/m. In monolayers of SP-B/(DPPC/PG) spread on SP-A, regardless of the presence of calcium ions, large clusters of a probe-excluding phase, different from probe-excluding lipid LC phase, appeared and segregated from the LE phase at near-zero surface pressures and coexisted with the conventional LE and LC phases up to approximately 35 mN/m. Varying the levels of either SP-A or SP-B in films of SP-B/SP-A/(DPPC/PG) revealed that the formation of the probe-excluding clusters distinctive for the quaternary films was influenced by the two proteins. Concanavalin A in the subphase could not replace SP-A in its ability to modulate the textures of films of SP-B/(DPPC/PG). In films of SP-C/SP-A/(DPPC/PG), in the absence of calcium, regions consisting of a probe-excluding phase, likely enriched in SP-A, were detected at surface pressures between 2 mN/m and 20 mN/m in addition to the lipid LE and LC phases. Ca(2+) in the subphase appeared to disperse this phase into tiny probe-excluding particles, likely comprising Ca(2+)-aggregated SP-A. Despite their strikingly different morphologies, the films of DPPC/PG that contained combinations of SP-B/SP-A or SP-C/SP-A displayed similar distributions of LC and LE phases with LC regions occupying a maximum of 20% of the total monolayer area. Combining SP-A and SP-B reorganized the morphology of monolayers composed of DPPC and PG in a Ca(2+)-independent manner that led to the formation of a separate potentially protein-rich phase in the films.

Interactions of pulmonary surfactant protein A with phospholipid monolayers change with pH

The interaction of pulmonary surfactant protein A (SP-A) labeled with Texas Red (TR-SP-A) with monolayers containing zwitterionic and acidic phospholipids has been studied at pH 7.4 and 4.5 using epifluorescence microscopy. At pH 7.4, TR-SP-A expanded the pi-A isotherms of film of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC). It interacted at high concentration at the edges of condensed-expanded phase domains, and distributed evenly at lower concentration into the fluid phase with increasing pressure. At pH 4.5, TR-SP-A expanded DPPC monolayers to a slightly lower extent than at pH 7.4. It interacted primarily at the phase boundaries but it did not distribute into the fluid phase with increasing pressure. Films of DPPC/dipalmitoylphosphatidylglycerol (DPPG) 7:3 mol/mol were somewhat expanded by TR-SP-A at pH 7.4. The protein was distributed in aggregates only at the condensed-expanded phase boundaries at all surface pressures. At pH 4.5 TR-SP-A caused no expansion of the pi-A isotherm of DPPC/DPPG, but its fluorescence was relatively homogeneously distributed throughout the expanded phase at all pressures studied. These observations can be explained by a combination of factors including the preference for SP-A aggregates to enter monolayers at packing dislocations and their disaggregation in the presence of lipid under increasing pressure, together with the influence of pH on the aggregation state of SP-A and the interaction of SP-A with zwitterionic and acidic lipid.

Cation-mediated conformational variants of surfactant protein A

Surfactant protein A (SP-A) is the major protein of pulmonary surfactant. This protein is implicated in regulating surfactant secretion, alveolar processing, recycling, and in non-serum-induced immune response. An increasing body of work indicates the importance of cations, particularly calcium, on SP-A function. However, little information exists on the effects of cations on SP-A quaternary structure. Here, the quaternary organisation of bovine surfactant protein A in the presence of cations has been quantitatively and systematically studied by transmission electron microscopy. The conformation of SP-A is altered by the presence of cations, especially calcium, then sodium, and to a small extent, magnesium. There is a transition concentration, unique for each cation, at which a conformational switch occurs. These transition concentrations are: 5 mM for CaCl2, 100 mM for NaCl and 1 mM for MgCl2. Below these concentrations, SP-A exists primarily in an opened form with a large head diameter of 20 nm; above it, SP-A is mostly in a closed form due to a compaction of the headgroups resulting in a head diameter of 11 nm. There is a corresponding increase in particle length from 17 nm for opened SP-A to 20 nm for closed SP-A. The fact that the transition concentrations are within physiological range suggests that cation-mediated conformational changes of SP-A could be operative in vivo.

Structure, processing and properties of surfactant protein A

Surfactant protein A (SP-A) is a highly ordered, oligomeric glycoprotein that is secreted into the airspaces of the lung by the pulmonary epithelium. The in vitro activities of protein suggest diverse roles in pulmonary host defense and surfactant homeostasis, structure and surface activity. Functional mapping of SP-A using directed mutagenesis has identified domains which interact with surfactant phospholipids, alveolar type II cells and microbes. Recently developed genetically manipulated animal models are beginning to clarify the critical physiological roles for SP-A in the normal lung, and in the pathophysiology of pulmonary disease.

Structural changes of surfactant protein A induced by cations reorient the protein on lipid bilayers

Surfactant protein A (SP-A) is an octadecameric hydrophilic glycoprotein and is the major protein component of pulmonary surfactant. This protein complex plays several roles in the body, such as regulation of surfactant secretion, recycling and adsorption of surfactant lipids, and non-serum-induced immune response. Many of SP-A's activities are dependent upon the presence of cations, especially calcium. Here, we have studied in vitro the effect of cations on the interaction of purified bovine SP-A with phospholipid vesicles made of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine and unsaturated phosphatidylcholine. We have found that SP-A octadecamers exist in an "opened-bouquet" conformation in the absence of cations and interact with lipid membranes via one or two globular headgroups. Calcium-induced structural changes in SP-A lead to the formation of a clearly identifiable stem in a "closed-bouquet" conformation. This change, in turn, seemingly results in all of SP-A's globular headgroups interacting with the lipid membrane surface and with the stem pointing away from the membrane surface. These results represent direct evidence that the headgroups of SP-A (comprising carbohydrate recognition domains), and not the stem (comprising the amino-terminus and collagen-like region), interact with lipid bilayers. Our data support models of tubular myelin in which the headgroups, not the tails, interact with the lipid walls of the lattice.

Effect of acidic pH on the structure and lipid binding properties of porcine surfactant protein A. Potential role of acidification along its exocytic pathway

Pulmonary surfactant protein A (SP-A) is synthesized by type II cells and stored intracellularly in secretory granules (lamellar bodies) together with surfactant lipids and hydrophobic surfactant proteins B and C (SP-B and SP-C). We asked whether the progressive decrease in pH along the exocytic pathway could influence the secondary structure and lipid binding and aggregation properties of porcine SP-A. Conformational analysis from CD spectra of SP-A at various pH values indicated that the percentage of alpha-helix progressively decreased and that of beta-sheet increased as the pH was reduced. The protein underwent a marked self-aggregation at mildly acidic pH in the presence of Ca2+, conditions thought to resemble those existing in the trans-Golgi network. Protein aggregation was greater as the pH was reduced. We also found that both neutral and acidic vesicles either with or without SP-B or SP-C bound to SP-A at acidic pH as demonstrated by co-migration during centrifugation. However, the binding of acidic but not neutral vesicles to SP-A led to 1) a striking change in the CD spectra of the protein, which was interpreted as a decrease of the level of SP-A self-aggregation, and 2) a protection of the protein from endoproteinase Glu-C degradation at pH 4.5. SP-A massively aggregated acidic vesicles but poorly aggregated neutral vesicles at acidic pH. Aggregation of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) vesicles either with or without SP-B and/or SP-C strongly depended on pH, being progressively decreased as the pH was reduced and markedly increased when pH was shifted back to 7.0. At the pH of lamellar bodies, SP-A-induced aggregation of DPPC vesicles containing SP-B or a mixture of SP-B and SP-C was very low, although SP-A bound to these vesicles. These results indicate that 1) DPPC binding and DPPC aggregation are different phenomena that probably have different SP-A structural requirements and 2) aggregation of membranes induced by SP-A at acidic pH is critically dependent on the presence of acidic phospholipids, which affect protein structure, probably preventing the formation of large aggregates of protein.

Phase transitions in films of lung surfactant at the air-water interface

Pulmonary surfactant maintains a putative surface-active film at the air-alveolar fluid interface and prevents lung collapse at low volumes. Porcine lung surfactant extracts (LSE) were studied in spread and adsorbed films at 23 +/- 1 degrees C using epifluorescence microscopy combined with surface balance techniques. By incorporating small amounts of fluorescent probe 1-palmitoyl-2-nitrobenzoxadiazole dodecanoyl phosphatidylcholine (NBD-PC) in LSE films the expanded (fluid) to condensed (gel-like) phase transition was studied under different compression rates and ionic conditions. Films spread from solvent and adsorbed from vesicles both showed condensed (probe-excluding) domains dispersed in a background of expanded (probe-including) phase, and the appearance of the films was similar at similar surface pressure. In quasistatically compressed LSE films the appearance of condensed domains occurred at a surface pressure (pi) of 13 mN/m. Such domains increased in size and amounts as pi was increased to 35 mN/m, and their amounts appeared to decrease to 4% upon further compression to 45 mN/m. Above pi of 45 mN/m the LSE films had the appearance of filamentous materials of finely divided dark and light regions, and such features persisted up to a pi near 68 mN/m. Some of the condensed domains had typical kidney bean shapes, and their distribution was similar to those seen previously in films of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC), the major component of surfactant. Rapid cyclic compression and expansion of LSE films resulted in features that indicated a possible small (5%) loss of fluid components from such films or an increase in condensation efficiency over 10 cycles. Calcium (5 mM) in the subphase of LSE films altered the domain distribution, decreasing the size and increasing the number and total amount of condensed phase domains. Calcium also caused an increase in the value of pi at which the maximum amount of independent condensed phase domains were observed to 45 mN/m. It also induced formation of large amounts of novel, nearly circular domains containing probe above pi of 50 mN/m, these domains being different in appearance than any seen at lower pressures with calcium or higher pressures in the absence of calcium. Surfactant protein-A (SP-A) adsorbed from the subphase onto solvent-spread LSE films, and aggregated condensed domains in presence of calcium. This study indicates that spread or adsorbed lung surfactant films can undergo expanded to condensed, and possibly other, phase transitions at the air-water interface as lateral packing density increases. These phase transitions are affected by divalent cations and SP-A in the subphase, and possibly by loss of material from the surface upon cyclic compression and expansion.

Mutational analysis of Arg197 of rat surfactant protein A. His197 creates specific lipid uptake defects

In previous studies, tandem mutagenesis of Glu195 and Arg197 of surfactant protein A (SP-A) has implicated both residues as critical participants in the interaction of the molecule with alveolar type II cells and phospholipids. We substituted Ala, Lys, His, Asp, and Asn mutations for Arg to evaluate the role of a basic amino acid at position 197 in SP-A action. Unexpectedly, Ala197 retained complete activity in the SP-A functions of carbohydrate binding, type II cell binding, inhibition of surfactant secretion, lipid binding, lipid aggregation, and lipid uptake by type II cells. The results unambiguously demonstrate that Arg197 is not mechanistically essential for SP-A function. The Lys197 mutation displayed all functions of the wild type protein but exhibited a 2-fold increase in lipid uptake activity. The His197 mutation displayed all SP-A functions studied except for lipid uptake. The results obtained with the His197 mutation clearly demonstrate that lipid aggregation alone by SP-A is insufficient to promote lipid uptake by type II cells. These findings indicate that specific interactions between type II cells and SP-A are involved in the phospholipid uptake processes.

Differential partitioning of pulmonary surfactant protein SP-A into regions of monolayers of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine and dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine/dipalmitoylphosphatidylglycerol

The interaction of the pulmonary surfactant protein SP-A fluorescently labeled with Texas Red (TR-SP-A) with monolayers of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and DPPC/dipalmitoylphosphatidylglycerol 7:3 w/w has been investigated. The monolayers were spread on aqueous subphases containing TR-SP-A. TR-SP-A interacted with the monolayers of DPPC to accumulate at the boundary regions between liquid condensed (LC) and liquid expanded (LE) phases. Some TR-SP-A appeared in the LE phase but not in the LC phase. At intermediate surface pressures (10-20 mN/m), the protein caused the occurrence of more, smaller condensed domains, and it appeared to be excluded from the monolayers at surface pressure in the range of 30-40 mN/m. TR-SP-A interaction with DPPC/dipalmitoylphosphatidylglycerol monolayers was different. The protein did not appear in either LE or LC but only in large aggregates at the LC-LE boundary regions, a distribution visually similar to that of fluorescently labeled concanavalin A adsorbed onto monolayers of DPPC. The observations are consistent with a selectivity of interaction of SP-A with DPPC and for its accumulation in boundaries between LC and LE phase.

Increase of C-reactive protein and decrease of surfactant protein A in surfactant after lung transplantation

In this study, we asked whether the serum acute-phase protein C-reactive protein (CRP) increased in large surfactant aggregates after lung transplantation and analyzed the changes in composition and interfacial adsorption activity of those aggregates. Single left lung transplantation was performed in weight-matched pairs of dogs. A double-lung block from the donor animal was flushed with either modified Euro-Collins solution (EC) (n = 6) or University of Wisconsin solution (UW) (n = 6) at 4 degrees C followed by immersion in cold EC or UW for 22 h. The left donor lung was transplanted. The recipient dog was then reperfused for 4.5 h. Irrespective of the preservation fluid, gas exchanged was impaired in the transplanted lung after 4.5 h of reperfusion. Large surfactant aggregates obtained from this lung showed reduced ability to rapidly adsorb to an air-liquid interface. Phospholipid (PL) content and PL composition of surfactant from lung transplants was similar to that of the control lungs. However, the content of surfactant protein A decreased after reperfusion. In addition, Western blot analyses showed that levels of CRP increased in surfactant from transplanted but not from donor lungs. The addition of human CRP to control surfactant (CRP:PL weight ratio, 0.01:1) caused a decrease of surfactant adsorption. We conclude that the impairment of adsorption facilities of surfactant from transplanted lungs may be correlated with decreased levels of surfactant protein A and increased levels of CRP. The presence of elevated levels of CRP in bronchoalveolar lavage could be a very sensitive marker of lung injury.

Reversible calcium-dependent interaction of liposomes with pulmonary surfactant protein A. Analysis by resonant mirror technique and near-infrared light scattering

Surfactant protein A (SP-A) is crucial for lung function, including tubular myelin formation and lipid uptake by type II pneumocytes. Known properties of SP-A in vitro are its Ca2+-dependent interaction with phospholipids and its role in the aggregation of liposomes. To dissect and to analyze these processes, we have immobilized SP-A and measured binding of liposomes by the resonant mirror technique. Liposome aggregation was followed separately by kinetic light scattering in suspensions. It was found that SP-A-mediated binding and aggregation of liposomes have a common K0.5 of 20 microM for free Ca2+, independent of the species (sheep, rat, or cow) and of the phospholipid composition, and that both reactions exhibit the same high cooperativity (Hill coefficients of 6-9) for Ca2+ ions. However, binding of liposomes to SP-A is >10-fold faster than aggregation. Both processes are completely reversed by low Ca2+ concentrations, but liposomes dissociate from SP-A in <0.3 s, whereas disaggregation of the liposomes takes approximately 30 s. At equilibrium, the level of aggregation depends on the concentration of free SP-A. We interpret these results to be a rapid and reversible sequence of three reactions: (i) a cooperative Ca2+-dependent conformational change in SP-A, (ii) binding of Ca2+-bound SP-A to liposomes, and (iii) aggregation of the Ca2+/SP-A-bound liposomes.