It is well known that treatment with exogenous surfactant works well in premature infants with lung surfactant deficiency. Effects of surfactant therapy are less dramatic when used to treat lung diseases associated with acute lung injury(ALI)and adult respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS). This less successful clinical response may be due in part to surfactant inactivation by leakage of plasma and inflammatory products into the alveoli. It is therefore important to find a way of preventing or reversing inactivation of surfac- Effects of surfactant therapy are less dramatic when used to treat lung diseases associated with acute lung injury (ALI) and adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). This is well known that treatment with exogenous surfactant works well in premature infants with lung surfactant deficiency less successful clinical response may be due in part to surfactant inactivation by leakage of plasma and inflammatory products into the alveoli. It is therefore important to find a way of preventing or reversing inactivation of surfac-