Abstract: Pulmonary surfactant protein （SP） is a carrier which plays an important role in phospholipids, mainly in the bronchial surface and alveolar gas-liquid interface, with lower surface tension properties, prevents alveolar collapse, is beneficial to gas exchange and to maintain the lungs pulmonary residual volume and to keep pulmonary compliance. Four kinds of proteins have been found, namely SP-A, SP-B, SP-C and SP-D. These four proteins in lung disease defensive and in maintaining lung function play important roles. Therefore, this article reviews SP from its structure, function and the correlation with the disease, to provide a basis for future research.

Key words: surfactant protein; structure; function; disease; correlation