The present invention relates to the use of antisecretory factor (AF)
protein, homologues, and / or fragments thereof, having equivalent
functional activity, and / or a pharmaceutically active salt thereof, for restoring and / or normalizing
epithelial barrier function for treating and / or preventing acute
respiratory failure.In particular, antisecretory factor (AF)
protein, homologues, and / or fragments thereof, having equivalent
functional activity, and / or a pharmaceutically active salt thereof, is (are) herein disclosed to be of use in counteracting and / or normalizing fluid transfer across epithelial
cell barriers with a significant
impact on a large proportion of patients with traumatic
lung injury, such as but not limited to patients suffering from abnormal accumulation of fluid in the
lung alveoli and / or bronchioles selected from the
list of patients suffering from BPD,
ARDS, IRDS,
sepsis, SIRS, acute
pulmonary edema, pneumonia, interstitial
pulmonary edema and cardiovascular
lung disorder.