PLUNC is a novel airway surfactant protein with anti-biofilm activity.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The PLUNC ("Palate, lung, nasal epithelium clone") protein is an abundant secretory product of epithelia present throughout the conducting airways of humans and other mammals, which is evolutionarily related to the lipid transfer/lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LT/LBP) family. Two members of this family--the bactericidal/permeability increasing protein (BPI) and the lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP)--are innate immune molecules with recognized roles in sensing and responding to Gram negative bacteria, leading many to propose that PLUNC may play a host defense role in the human airways.

Methodology/principal findings

Based on its marked hydrophobicity, we hypothesized that PLUNC may be an airway surfactant. We found that purified recombinant human PLUNC

SUBMITTER: Gakhar L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2817724 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature