Effect of natural porcine surfactant in Staphylococcus aureus induced pro-inflammatory cytokines and reactive oxygen species generation in monocytes and neutrophils from human blood.

Surfacen® is a clinical surfactant preparation of porcine origin. In the present study, we have evaluated the effect of Surfacen® in the modulation of oxidative burst in monocytes and neutrophils in human blood and pro-inflammatory cytokine production in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Reactive oxygen species (ROS) level was measured in monocytes and neutrophils by flow cytometry using 2,7-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) as substrate, while, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6 levels were estimated in PBMC supernatant by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Our results show that Staphylococcus aureus-induced ROS level was slightly affected by Surfacen® added to whole blood monocytes and neutrophils. The time course experiments of pre-incubation with Surfacen® showed no significant increase of ROS level at 2h; however, the ROS level decreased when pre incubated for 4h and 6h with Surfacen®. Pre-incubation of PBMC cells with Surfacen® at 0.125 and 0.5mg/mL showed a dose-dependent suppression of TNF-α levels measured after 4h of S. aureus stimulation, an effect less impressive when cells were stimulated for 24h. A similar behavior was observed in IL-6 release. In summary, the present study provides experimental evidence supporting an anti-inflammatory role of Surfacen® in human monocytes and neutrophils in vitro.

In vitro interaction between SURFACEN® and surfactant protein A against Leishmania amazonensis.

Leishmaniasis is caused by a parasite of the Leishmania genus, affecting more than 12 million people in 98 countries. The control of leishmaniasis remains a serious problem. There are currently no vaccines for leishmaniasis. The drugs available are toxic, expensive and frequently ineffective. The in vitro activity of SURFACEN® and SP-A against Leishmania amazonensis was evaluated. The combination of both products resulted in a synergic pharmacology effect, demonstrated by a fractional inhibitory concentration index <0.5. A more effective combination was a SURFACEN/SP-A ratio of 4:1, using a method of fixed ratio. The therapeutic effect of SURFACEN and SP-A as antileishmanial compounds was demonstrated, with a potentiation of activity when they were incubated in conjunction. Our results propose an exploration of these products in order to design new formulations against the Leishmania parasite.