Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Cell-matrix's Response to Mechanical Forces01:13

Cell-matrix's Response to Mechanical Forces

2.8K
In animal cells, the extracellular matrix allows cells within tissues to withstand external stresses and transmits signals from the outside of the cell to the inside. The extracellular matrix is extensive, and its composition varies between different types of tissues. For example, the reticular fibers and ground substance make up the ECM in loose connective tissue, while collagen and bone minerals make up the ECM of bone tissue. 
Anchoring junctions mechanically attach a cell to the...
2.8K
Fibril-associated Collagen01:11

Fibril-associated Collagen

2.7K
Fibril-associated collagens are a type of collagens present in the extracellular matrix with interrupted triple helices or FACIT (Fibril-associated collagens interrupted triple-helices). FACIT help connect and attach the collagen fibrils with each other as well as with other proteins of the extracellular matrix.
For example, the type II collagen fibrils in cartilage have covalently bound type IX fibril-associated collagens at regular intervals. Other types of fibril-associated collagens are...
2.7K
Structural Protein Function01:56

Structural Protein Function

28.8K
Structural proteins are a category of proteins responsible for functions ranging from cell shape and movement to providing support to major structures such as bones, cartilage, hair, and muscles. This group includes proteins such as collagen, actin, myosin, and keratin.
Collagen, the most abundant protein in mammals, is found throughout the body. In connective tissue, such as skin, ligaments, and tendons, it provides tensile strength and elasticity.  In bones and teeth, it mineralizes to...
28.8K
Collagens are the Major Structural Proteins of ECM01:13

Collagens are the Major Structural Proteins of ECM

4.5K
Three main types of fibers are secreted by fibroblasts: collagen fibers, elastic fibers, and reticular fibers. Collagen fiber is made from fibrous protein subunits linked together to form a long, straight fiber. Collagen fibers, while flexible, have great tensile strength, resist stretching, and give ligaments and tendons their characteristic resilience and strength. These fibers hold connective tissues together, even during the body's movement.
Connective tissue proper includes loose...
4.5K
Extracellular Matrix01:26

Extracellular Matrix

3.8K
Unlike epithelial tissue, which is composed of cells closely packed with little or no extracellular space in between, connective tissue cells are dispersed in a matrix. This extracellular matrix (ECM) is composed of fibrous proteins like collagen, elastin, and fibronectin in a ground substance consisting of interstitial fluid, cell adhesion proteins, and proteoglycans. The proteoglycans form a gel-like material in the spaces between cells and provide hydration, buffering, binding, and force...
3.8K
Dense Connective Tissue01:13

Dense Connective Tissue

9.5K
Dense connective tissue contains more collagen fibers than loose connective tissue. As a consequence, it displays greater resistance to stretching. There are two major categories of dense connective tissue— regular and irregular.
Dense Regular Connective Tissue
In dense regular connective tissue, fibers are arranged parallel to each other, enhancing its tensile strength and resistance to stretching in the direction of the fiber orientations. Ligaments and tendons are made of dense regular...
9.5K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Cholesterol-containing lipid crystals can directly stiffen the rat steatotic liver before fibrosis.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026
Same author

Matrix Stiffness Governs Fibroblast-Driven Immune Homeostasis in Gingival Tissues.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2025
Same author

Biliary atresia.

Nature reviews. Disease primers·2024
Same author

Low-dose biliatresone treatment of pregnant mice causes subclinical biliary disease in their offspring: Evidence for a spectrum of neonatal injury.

PloS one·2024
Same author

Matrix viscoelasticity promotes liver cancer progression in the pre-cirrhotic liver.

Nature·2024
Same author

Human vascularized bile duct-on-a chip: a multi-cellular micro-physiological system for studying cholestatic liver disease.

Biofabrication·2023
Same journal

The exquisite mechanics of a tsetse bite.

eLife·2026
Same journal

Distinct involvements of the subthalamic nucleus subpopulations in reward-biased decision-making in monkeys.

eLife·2026
Same journal

Pink1-mediated mitophagy in the endothelium releases proteins encoded by mitochondrial DNA and activates neutrophil responses during inflammation.

eLife·2026
Same journal

Restraint of melanoma progression by cells in the local skin environment.

eLife·2026
Same journal

Brawn before bite in endemic Asian eutherian mammals after the end-Cretaceous extinction.

eLife·2026
Same journal

Experimental evolution to thermal stress indicates climate resilience in a cosmopolitan arthropod.

eLife·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 3, 2025

Measuring Ascending Aortic Stiffness In Vivo in Mice Using Ultrasound
10:08

Measuring Ascending Aortic Stiffness In Vivo in Mice Using Ultrasound

Published on: December 2, 2014

16.2K

How collagen becomes 'stiff'.

Rebecca G Wells1

  • 1Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, United States.

Elife
|February 21, 2022
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Oxidative stress after lung injury stiffens collagen, leading to fibrotic scar formation. This process hardens lung tissue, potentially impairing function.

Keywords:
cell biologycollagenfibrosishumanlung

More Related Videos

Preparation of 3D Collagen Gels and Microchannels for the Study of 3D Interactions In Vivo
10:24

Preparation of 3D Collagen Gels and Microchannels for the Study of 3D Interactions In Vivo

Published on: May 9, 2016

17.2K
Studying the Effects of Matrix Stiffness on Cellular Function using Acrylamide-based Hydrogels
10:19

Studying the Effects of Matrix Stiffness on Cellular Function using Acrylamide-based Hydrogels

Published on: August 10, 2010

22.3K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Oct 3, 2025

Measuring Ascending Aortic Stiffness In Vivo in Mice Using Ultrasound
10:08

Measuring Ascending Aortic Stiffness In Vivo in Mice Using Ultrasound

Published on: December 2, 2014

16.2K
Preparation of 3D Collagen Gels and Microchannels for the Study of 3D Interactions In Vivo
10:24

Preparation of 3D Collagen Gels and Microchannels for the Study of 3D Interactions In Vivo

Published on: May 9, 2016

17.2K
Studying the Effects of Matrix Stiffness on Cellular Function using Acrylamide-based Hydrogels
10:19

Studying the Effects of Matrix Stiffness on Cellular Function using Acrylamide-based Hydrogels

Published on: August 10, 2010

22.3K

Area of Science:

  • Pulmonary medicine
  • Biochemistry
  • Pathology

Background:

  • Lung injury can lead to oxidative stress.
  • Oxidative stress impacts extracellular matrix components.
  • Collagen alterations contribute to tissue fibrosis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of oxidative stress in collagen structural changes post-lung injury.
  • To understand how these collagen changes contribute to lung tissue stiffening and fibrosis.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of collagen structure and cross-linking.
  • Assessment of oxidative stress markers in lung tissue.
  • Evaluation of tissue stiffness and fibrotic markers.

Main Results:

  • Oxidative stress was observed following lung injury.
  • Significant alterations in collagen structure, including increased stiffening, were detected.
  • These collagen changes correlated with the development of fibrotic scar tissue.

Conclusions:

  • Oxidative stress is a key mediator in collagen stiffening after lung injury.
  • Altered collagen structure promotes fibrotic scar formation, leading to tissue hardening.