Surfactant protein A is decreased in the lung of rats with hepatopulmonary syndrome^I

PURPOSE:

To evaluate surfactant protein A levels in an hepatopulmonary syndrome rat model. To date, there have been no studies aimed at evaluating surfactant levels in the setting of cirrhosis or hepatopulmonary syndrome.

METHODS:

A total of 35 rats were divided into control, sham, and experimental HPS groups. We evaluated surfactant protein A levels in rats and the experimental model designed to induce hepatopulmonary syndrome was common bile duct ligation. Statistical analysis was performed using GraphPad Prism Software^(r). Differences were considered statistically significant when p<0.05.

RESULTS:

Lung homogenate of surfactant protein A levels were lower in the experimental hepatopulmonary syndrome and sham groups in comparison to the control group (p<0.05). Serum SP-A levels were the same in experimental hepatopulmonary syndrome and control groups but decreased in the sham group compared with the experimental groups (p<0.05). Myeloperoxidase activity was higher in the experimental hepatopulmonary syndrome group than the other two groups (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION:

Surfactant protein A is present in experimental hepatopulmonary syndrome and leads to an imbalance between serum and pulmonary levels due to systemic inflammatory response.

Hepatopulmonary Syndrome; Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein A; Models, Animal; Rats