The release of pulmonary surfactant by alveolar type II (ATII) cells is essential for lowering surface tension at the respiratory air-liquid interface, stabilizing the lungs against physical forces tending to alveolar collapse. Hydrophobic surfactant protein (SP)-B ensures the proper packing of newly synthesized surfactant particles, promotes the formation of the surface active film at the alveolar air-liquid interface and maintains its proper structure along the respiratory dynamics. We report that membrane-associated SP-B efficiently induces secretion of pulmonary surfactant by ATII cells, at the same level as potent secretagogues such as ATP. The presence in the extracellular medium of lipid-protein complexes containing SP-B activates the P2Y2 purinergic signaling pathway that ultimately triggers exocytosis of lamellar bodies by ATII cells. Our data suggest that SP-B prompts Ca2+-dependent surfactant secretion via ATP release from ATII cells. This result implies that SP-B is not only an essential component for the biophysical function of surfactant but is also a central element in the alveolar homeostasis by eliciting autocrine and paracrine cell stimulation.-Martínez-Calle, M., Olmeda, B., Dietl, P., Frick, M., Pérez-Gil, J. Pulmonary surfactant protein SP-B promotes exocytosis of lamellar bodies in alveolar type II cells.
Keywords: P2Y2; calcium; lung surfactant; purinergic signaling; surface tension.