This refers to a special group of phospholipids and proteins on the outer surface of the respiratory organs that essentially act as a lubricant for the lungs, reducing their tension during breathing. They are critically important for health. More than half of premature infants born before 28 weeks of experience a deficiency of this fluid, leading to the collapse of some alveoli in the lungs.
In the late 1980s, researchers discovered that this often fatal condition could be alleviated by extracting surfactants from the of animals and administering them to the lungs of premature infants.
“This has a very positive effect on newborns. The fluid covers the entire surface of the lungs, making them more compliant,” said lead author Jan Vermant from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich.
He also cited an example involving about 3,000 adults who developed acute respiratory distress syndrome during the . In these cases, the fluid transplantation procedure used for premature infants did not yield results.
“This indicates that it’s not just about reducing surface tension,” Vermant explained. “We believe that mechanical stress within the fluid also plays an important role.”
What did the new study reveal?
During the study, the team experimented by modeling normal and deep breathing in laboratory conditions and then measured the surface tension of the pulmonary surfactants.
The researchers found that the surface tension in the lungs significantly decreased after particularly deep inhalations. This may explain the physical relief that often accompanies a deep sigh, as reported by Popular Science.
The team also noted that this effect is related to the fact that pulmonary surfactants consist of not just one layer of fluid, but several. “Directly at the air interface is a somewhat stiffer surface layer. Below it are several softer layers,” noted study co-author Maria Novaes-Silva.
These layers function best when they are in balance with one another. However, sometimes this balance is disrupted. When they become unbalanced, the best way to restore their function is to take a deep breath. By forcing the surfactants to stretch and compress more, the pulmonary fluid will restore the outer layer.
Vermant’s team hopes that this discovery will help develop new treatments for lung failure in adults. One potential solution to this problem could be the creation of artificial surfactants.
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