Extracellular Matrix Component Remodeling in Respiratory Diseases: What Has Been Found in Clinical and Experimental Studies?

• Published in: Cells (Basel, Switzerland) Vol. 8; no. 4; p. 342
• Main Authors: Ito, Juliana T, Lourenço, Juliana D, Righetti, Renato F, Tibério, Iolanda F L C, Prado, Carla M, Lopes, Fernanda D T Q S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 11.04.2019; MDPI
• Subjects: acute respiratory distress syndrome; Airway Remodeling; Allergens; Animals; Asthma; Asthma - physiopathology; Biopsy; Bronchial Hyperreactivity - metabolism; Chemokines; Chronic illnesses; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Collagen; Collagen Type I - metabolism; Collagen Type II - metabolism; Connective tissue; Cytokines; Disease; Disease Models, Animal; Edema; Elastin; Emphysema; Extracellular matrix; Extracellular Matrix - pathology; Fibroblasts; Fibronectin; Fibronectins - metabolism; Glycoproteins; Growth factors; Humans; Hyperplasia; Inflammation; Lung - pathology; Lung diseases; lung function; Lungs; Mechanical properties; Obstructive lung disease; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive - physiopathology; Respiratory diseases; Respiratory distress syndrome; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult - physiopathology; Respiratory function; Respiratory tract; Review; Smooth muscle; United States > US; acute respiratory distress syndrome; asthma; lung function; extracellular matrix; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• ISSN: 2073-4409; 2073-4409
• DOI: 10.3390/cells8040342

Changes in extracellular matrix (ECM) components in the lungs are associated with the progression of respiratory diseases, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Experimental and clinical studies have revealed that structural changes in ECM components occur under chronic inflammatory conditions, and these changes are associated with impaired lung function. In bronchial asthma, elastic and collagen fiber remodeling, mostly in the airway walls, is associated with an increase in mucus secretion, leading to airway hyperreactivity. In COPD, changes in collagen subtypes I and III and elastin, interfere with the mechanical properties of the lungs, and are believed to play a pivotal role in decreased lung elasticity, during emphysema progression. In ARDS, interstitial edema is often accompanied by excessive deposition of fibronectin and collagen subtypes I and III, which can lead to respiratory failure in the intensive care unit. This review uses experimental models and human studies to describe how inflammatory conditions and ECM remodeling contribute to the loss of lung function in these respiratory diseases.