Expression of acute-phase cytokines, surfactant proteins, and epithelial apoptosis in small airways of human acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Purpose: Recent studies suggest a role for distal airway injury in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The epithelium lining the small airways secretes a large number of molecules such as surfactant components and inflammatory mediators. There is little information on how these small airway secretory functions are altered in ARDS.