Classically, the extracellular matrix (ECM) was viewed as a supporting structure for
stabilizing the location of cells in tissues and for preserving the architecture of tissues. This …

Neutrophil elastase (NE) degrades basal lamina and extracellular matrix molecules, and
recruits leukocytes during inflammation; however, a basic understanding of the role of NE in …

Proteolytic processing of laminin-332 by matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-14 has
been shown to yield fragments that are promigratory for epithelial cells. During acute and …

Free iron in lung can cause the generation of reactive oxygen species, an important factor in
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) pathogenesis. Iron accumulation has been …

Several peptide sequences in laminin α1, the α-chain of laminin (Ln)-1, mediate biological
responses in vitro, but Ln-1 is rare in vivo. Since Ln-5 and Ln-10, which contain the α3 and α5 …

Oxidative stress is widely proposed as a pathogenic mechanism for chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease (COPD), but the molecular pathway connecting oxidative damage to tissue …

Background Oxidative stress is a key element in the pathogenesis of emphysema, but
oxidation of nucleic acids has been largely overlooked. The aim of this study was to investigate …

Mutation of the mouse laminin α5 gene results in a variety of developmental defects, including
defects in kidney structure and function. Whereas the total absence of laminin α5 results in …

Cigarette smoke (CS) is the main risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Terminal bronchioles are critical zones in the pathophysiology of COPD, but little is …

The epithelium of the pulmonary airway is specially differentiated to provide defense against
environmental insults, but also subject to dysregulated differentiation that results in lung …