Roles of Mechanical Forces and Collagen Failure in the Development of Elastase-induced Emphysema

摘要: Emphysema causes a permanent destruction of alveolar walls leading to airspace enlargement, loss elastic recoil, decrease in surface area for gas exchange, lung hyperexpansion, and increased work breathing. The most accepted hypothesis how emphysema develops is based on an imbalance protease antiprotease activity the degradation elastin within fiber network extracellular matrix. Here we report novel roles mechanical forces collagen during remodeling tissue rat model elastase-induced emphysema. We have developed technique measure stress-strain properties sections while simultaneously visualizing deformation immunofluorescently labeled elastin-collagen network. found that elastase treated significant leads thickened fibers stretching, newly deposited undergo substantially larger distortions than normal tissue. also threshold failure collagen, which provides stability lung, reduced. Our results indicate breathing are capable causing remodeled matrix at loci stress concentrations so contribute progression