... ResearchOpen AccessResearch Susceptibility to ozone-induced airway inflammation is associated with decreased levels of surfactant protein DS Kierstein1, FR Poulain2, Y Cao1, M Grous3, R Mathias2, ... havepreviously shown that a rapid release of pro-inflamma-tory cytokines is followed by a relatively slow, gradual ele-vation of SP-D protein levels in the airways, with a peak48 hours after allergen ... of thisresponse are yet to be fully determined. Surfactant protein- D (SP-D), a pattern-recognition mole-cule of the pulmonary innate immune system, enhancesthe phagocytosis and clearance of...