Surfactant degradation activity in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from guinea pigs challenged with antigen

Background and objective: Surfactant dysfunction is a characteristic of bronchial asthma, but mechanisms of dysfunction following antigen exposure are not understood. The aim of this study was to examine whether bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) has surfactant degradation activity after antigen challenge, using an animal model of asthma. Methods: BALF was collected 24 h after a challenge with aerosolized antigen solution in actively sensitized...