Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a debilitating disease caused by chronic
exposure to cigarette smoke (CS), which involves airway obstruction and alveolar loss (ie, …

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is linked to both cigarette smoking and genetic
determinants. We have previously identified iron-responsive element–binding protein 2 (…

Enlargement of the respiratory air spaces is associated with the breakdown and reorganization
of the connective tissue fiber network during the development of pulmonary emphysema. …

Adiponectin is an adipocyte-derived collectin that acts on a wide range of tissues including
liver, brain, heart, and vascular endothelium. To date, little is known about the actions of …

The mean linear intercept (L m ) can be used to estimate the surface area for gas exchange
in the lung. However, in recent years, it is most commonly used as an index for …

Microtubules are structural components of the cytoskeleton that determine cell shape,
polarity, and motility in cooperation with the actin filaments. In order to determine the role of …

Transpulmonary pressure and the mechanical stresses of breathing modulate many essential
cell functions in the lung via mechanotransduction. We review how mechanical factors …

For an airway or a blood vessel to narrow, there must be a connected path that links the
smooth muscle (SM) cells with each other, and transmits forces around the organ, causing it to …

We developed a network model in an attempt to characterize heterogeneity of tissue elasticity
of the lung. The model includes a parallel set of pathways, each consisting of an airway …

Cells can be exposed to irregular mechanical fluctuations, such as those arising from changes
in blood pressure. Here, we report that ATP production, assessed through changes in …