SURFACTANT PROTEIN-A (SP-A) GENE TARGETED MICE

Mice lacking surfactant protein A (SP-A) mRNA and protein in vivo were generated using gene targeting techniques. SP-A (-/-) mice have norma l levels of SP-B, SP-C and SP-D mRNA and protein and survive and breed normally in vivarium conditions. Phospholipid composition, secretion and clearance, and incorporation of phospholipid precursors are normal in the SP-A (-/-) mice. Lungs of SP-A (-/-) mice have markedly decrea sed tubular myelin figures and clear Group B streptococci and Pseudomo nas aeruginosa less efficiently than SP-A wild type mice. These studie s of SP-A (-/-) mice demonstrate that SP-A has an important role in th e innate immune system of the lung in vivo. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.