The extracellular matrix (ECM) is the scaffold that provides structure and support to all
organs, including the lung; however, it is also much more than this. The ECM provides …

Pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema are chronic lung diseases characterized by a
progressive decline in lung function, resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. A …

Elastic and collagen fibers are well known to be the major load-bearing extracellular matrix
(ECM) components of the arterial wall. Studies of the structural components and mechanics …

During inflammation, leukocytes influx into lung compartments and interact with extracellular
matrix (ECM). Two ECM components, versican and hyaluronan, increase in a range of lung …

Versican is a proteoglycan that has many different roles in tissue homeostasis and
inflammation. The biochemical structure comprises four different types of the core protein …

Pulmonary emphysema is one of the distinct pathological forms of chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease (COPD) that is accompanied by gradual elimination of alveolar tissue …

Cell-derived matrices (CDMs) provide an exogenous source of human extracellular matrix
(ECM), with applications as cell delivery vehicles, substrate coatings for cell attachment and …

Impaired alveolar formation and maintenance are features of many pulmonary diseases that
are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. In a forward genetic screen for …

The cellular mechanisms that result in the initiation and progression of emphysema are
clearly complex. A growing body of human data combined with discoveries from mouse …

Many experimental models have been proposed to study the pathophysiological features of
emphysema, as well as to search for new therapeutic approaches for acute or chronically …