Role of Collagen in Airway Mechanics

Abstract

Collagen is the most abundant airway extracellular matrix component and is the primary determinant of mechanical airway properties. Abnormal airway collagen deposition is associated with the pathogenesis and progression of airway disease. Thus, understanding how collagen affects healthy airway tissue mechanics is essential. The impact of abnormal collagen deposition and tissue stiffness has been an area of interest in pulmonary diseases such as cystic fibrosis, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In this review, we discuss (1) the role of collagen in airway mechanics, (2) macro- and micro-scale approaches to quantify airway mechanics, and (3) pathologic changes associated with collagen deposition in airway diseases. These studies provide important insights into the role of collagen in airway mechanics. We summarize their achievements and seek to provide biomechanical clues for targeted therapies and regenerative medicine to treat airway pathology and address airway defects.

Proteomic Analysis Reveals Key Proteins in Extracellular Vesicles Cargo Associated with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis In Vitro

“…Interestingly, our results show that several collagens family members were up-regulated in IPF, including COL5A2, COL5A1, COL3A1, COL1A2, COL1A1, and COL6A1. The collagen family consisting of 28 different collagen subtypes represents the major component of the airway ECM [50]. They also play an important function in providing the ECM an increased tensile strength [50,51].…”

“…The collagen family consisting of 28 different collagen subtypes represents the major component of the airway ECM [50]. They also play an important function in providing the ECM an increased tensile strength [50,51]. It has been described that collagen plays a particular role in the pathogenesis of IPF [50].…”

“…They also play an important function in providing the ECM an increased tensile strength [50,51]. It has been described that collagen plays a particular role in the pathogenesis of IPF [50]. Increased collagen deposition in the lung alveolar walls results in progressive destruction of normal alveolar architecture, resulting in increased ECM stiffness [50].…”

“…It has been described that collagen plays a particular role in the pathogenesis of IPF [50]. Increased collagen deposition in the lung alveolar walls results in progressive destruction of normal alveolar architecture, resulting in increased ECM stiffness [50]. Under normal and fibrotic conditions, type I collagen is the main component in the airway ECM, consisting of two α-1 and one α-2 chain encoded by the COL1A1 and COL1A2 genes, respectively [51].…”

Regeneration of partially decellularized tracheal scaffolds in a mouse model of orthotopic tracheal replacement

“… 35 , 36 We identified that DTS fabrication resulted in preservation of key ECM proteins essential for biomechanical support and maintained consistent micromechanical properties in the matrix. 37 A key advantage of partial decellularization in our DTS was its ability to preserve cartilage integrity. As such, we used atomic force microscopy (AFM) to further characterize chondrocyte stiffness in addition to live / dead and TUNEL assays.…”