Surfactant protein D in the female genital tract

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Abstract
Surfactant protein D (SP‐D) plays a role in innate immunity against various pathogens and in vivo studies have demonstrated that SP‐D also has anti‐inflammatory properties. SP‐D was originally demonstrated in alveolar type II cells, but recent studies have shown extrapulmonary expression of SP‐D indicating a systemic role for the protein. This study describes the presence of SP‐D in the female genital tract, the placenta and in amniotic fluid using immunohistochemistry and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. SP‐D was observed in cells lining surface epithelium and secretory glands in the vagina, cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries. In the placenta, SP‐D was seen in all villous and extravillous trophoblast subpopulations. Endometrial presence of SP‐D in non‐pregnant women varied according to stage of the menstrual cycle and was up‐regulated towards the secretory phase. It is suggested that endometrial SP‐D may prevent intrauterine infection at the time of implantation and during pregnancy.

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