Compositions and methods of using lamellar bodies for modifying linear biological macromolecules

A method for increasing the fluidity of a subject's surface airway surface fluid and restoring mucociliary clearance of secretions of the respiratory tract comprising applying an aerosol composition comprising lamellar bodies, wherein said lamellar bodies comprise phosphatidylcholine, sphingomyelin, phosphatidyl ethanolamine, phosphatidyl serine, phosphatidyl inositol and cholesterol, wherein said lamellar bodies are phospholipid multilamellar bilayered structures which comprise about 44-70% phosphatidylcholine, about 15-23% sphingomyelin, about 6-10% phosphatidyl ethanolamine, about 2-6% phosphatidyl serine, about 2-4% phosphatidyl inositol and about 4-12% cholesterol by weight to a subject's respiratory passages to modify the physical properties of linear macromolecules of the type mucous DNA, actin and alginate in pathologically altered secretions, wherein the pathologically altered secretions are present in a condition selected from the group consisting of cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and nasal congestion.