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Updated: Jul 11, 2026

Micro-Mechanical Characterization of Lung Tissue Using Atomic Force Microscopy
Published on: August 28, 2011
Extracellular matrix and airway smooth muscle interactions: a target for modulating airway wall remodelling and
1Department of Physiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
Abstract:
The airway smooth muscle from asthmatic airways produces increased amounts and an altered composition of extracellular matrix proteins. The extracellular matrix can in turn influence the phenotype and function of airway smooth muscle cells, affecting the biochemical, geometric, and mechanical properties of the airway wall. This review provides a brief overview of the current understanding of the biology associated with airway smooth muscle interactions with the extracellular matrix. We present future directions needed for the study of cellular and molecular mechanisms that determine the outcomes of extracellular matrix - airway smooth muscle interactions, and discuss their possible importance as determinants of airway function in asthma.
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