Effects of KL4-Type Peptides on the Surface Activity and Stability of Pulmonary Surfactant Films as Evaluated in the Captive Bubble Surfactometer

Although SP-B is the most critical protein in lung surfactant, recombinant or synthetic forms of SP-B as a basis for the development of therapeutic surfactants are still not available. An alternative is the design and production of peptides mimicking the structure and general properties of essential motifs in SP-B.In the present study the surface activity of different KL4-derived peptides, as sequence variations of the original peptide designed to replicate a general amphipathic motif of SP-B [1], has been assessed in the captive bubble surfactometer. The peptides were reconstituted in a surfactant lipid matrix: DPPC/POPC/POPG (50:25:15, w/w/w). This mixture was selected because it offers a…