BACKGROUND: TNF may play an important role (central mediator) in the development of an acute respiratory distress syndrome. Since TNF induced lung injury in the actute respiratory distress syndrome and abnormalities in surfactant function have been dexcribed in acute respiratory distress syndrome, the authors investigated the effects of TNF on the regulation of surfactant protein A, B, and C mRNA accumulation. METHODS: The effects of TNF on gene expression of surfactant protein A, B, and C were analyzed using filter hybridiztion, 12 and 24 hours after intravenous injection of TNF in rats. RESULTS: 1. The accumulation of SP-A mRNA in the TNF treated group (12 and 24 hours after TNF injection) was significantly decreased by 22.9% and 27.4%, respectively, compared to the control group (P < .025, P < .025). 2. The accumulation of SP-B mRNA in 24 hours after TNF treated group was significantly decreased by 20.5% compared to that of the control group (P<.01). 3. The accumulation of SP-C mRNA in 12 hours after treated group was significantly decreased by 31% the compared to that of the control group(P<.01). CONCLUSION: These findings indicate the marked inhibitory effects of tumor necrosis factor on surfactant proteins expression in vivo. This finding, in turn, supports the idea of inhibitory effects of tumor necrosis factor on surfactant proteins expression as it relates to pathogenesis of acute respiratory distress syndrome.