Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-II: Pathophysiology

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-II: Pathophysiology

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) pathophysiology is intricate and multifaceted, involving a complex interplay of physiological processes. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for effectively managing and treating COPD. Here is an in-depth look at the critical elements in the pathophysiology of COPD:
Chronic Inflammation

Pressure Relationships in Thoracic Cavity

Pressure Relationships in Thoracic Cavity

Breathing, otherwise known as pulmonary ventilation, is the process of air movement into and out of the lungs. The main mechanisms propelling pulmonary ventilation are atmospheric pressure (Patm), intra-pulmonary (Ppul ) or intra-alveolar pressure (Palv) within the alveoli, and intrapleural pressure (Pip) within the pleural cavity.
Breathing Mechanisms
Both intra-alveolar and intrapleural pressures rely on specific lung properties. The ability to breathe—allowing air to enter the lungs...

Pneumonia II: Pathophysiology

Pneumonia II: Pathophysiology

The pathophysiology of pneumonia involves the following steps:

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-I: Introduction

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-I: Introduction

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a long-lasting respiratory condition requiring continuous attention and care. It is a progressive lung disease that leads to breathing challenges due to airflow obstruction. It manifests as persistent respiratory symptoms and restricted airflow resulting from abnormalities in the airways and alveoli, usually due to long-term exposure to harmful particles or gases. COPD mainly consists of two primary conditions: emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

Factors Affecting Pulmonary Ventilation

Factors Affecting Pulmonary Ventilation

Besides the pressure difference between the external environment and the lungs, the airflow rate and ease of pulmonary ventilation are also influenced by three other factors: surface tension of the fluid in the alveoli, compliance of the lungs, and airway resistance.
Alveolar Surface Tension
The alveolar fluid lines the luminal surface of the alveoli and exerts a force called surface tension. This force is caused by the polar water molecules in the liquid being more strongly attracted to each...

COPD: Pathogenesis and Clinical Features

COPD: Pathogenesis and Clinical Features

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a group of lung conditions that progressively worsen over time, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. This cluster of diseases collectively leads to a gradual and irreversible decline in lung function over time.
The primary cause for the onset of COPD is cigarette smoking and exposure to air pollution. These hazardous factors initiate a chain reaction within the lungs, resulting in chronic inflammation, damage to the airways, and a...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by

Same author

Beyond the Critical Threshold: Elastic Fiber Remodeling and Fracture in the Pathogenesis of Pulmonary Emphysema.

International journal of molecular sciences·2025

Same author

Rodent Models of Lung Disease: A Road Map for Translational Research.

International journal of molecular sciences·2025

Same author

The Competitive Interaction of Alveolar Wall Distention with Elastin Crosslinking: A Mechanistic Approach to Emergent Phenomena in Pulmonary Emphysema.

Cells·2025

Same author

Elastin Peptides as a Potential Disease Vector in the Pathogenesis of Pulmonary Emphysema: An Investigation of This Hypothesis.

Life (Basel, Switzerland)·2025

Same author

Desmosine: The Rationale for Its Use as a Biomarker of Therapeutic Efficacy in the Treatment of Pulmonary Emphysema.

Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland)·2025

Same author

The Potential Role of Cigarette Smoke, Elastic Fibers, and Secondary Lung Injury in the Transition of Pulmonary Emphysema to Combined Pulmonary Fibrosis and Emphysema.

International journal of molecular sciences·2024

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 28, 2026

Measurement of the Pressure-volume Curve in Mouse Lungs

Measurement of the Pressure-volume Curve in Mouse Lungs

Published on: January 27, 2015

Percolation Forces in Lung Inflammation: Determining the Path to Emphysema or Fibrosis.

Jerome Cantor¹

¹School of Pharmacy and Allied Health Sciences, St John's University, Queens, NY 11439, USA.

|February 27, 2026

Summary

Chronic lung inflammation can lead to either emphysema or fibrosis through poorly understood mechanisms. Network theory reveals critical thresholds in extracellular matrix crosslinking and percolation phenomena dictate these divergent lung tissue outcomes.

Keywords:

crosslinking emergent phenomena percolation networks pulmonary emphysema pulmonary fibrosis

More Related Videos

Automated Measurement of Pulmonary Emphysema and Small Airway Remodeling in Cigarette Smoke-exposed Mice

Automated Measurement of Pulmonary Emphysema and Small Airway Remodeling in Cigarette Smoke-exposed Mice

Published on: January 16, 2015

Lung Fixation under Constant Pressure for Evaluation of Emphysema in Mice

Lung Fixation under Constant Pressure for Evaluation of Emphysema in Mice

Published on: September 26, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Feb 28, 2026

Measurement of the Pressure-volume Curve in Mouse Lungs

Measurement of the Pressure-volume Curve in Mouse Lungs

Published on: January 27, 2015

Automated Measurement of Pulmonary Emphysema and Small Airway Remodeling in Cigarette Smoke-exposed Mice

Automated Measurement of Pulmonary Emphysema and Small Airway Remodeling in Cigarette Smoke-exposed Mice

Published on: January 16, 2015

Lung Fixation under Constant Pressure for Evaluation of Emphysema in Mice

Lung Fixation under Constant Pressure for Evaluation of Emphysema in Mice

Published on: September 26, 2019

Area of Science:

Pulmonary Medicine
Biophysics
Network Theory

Background:

Chronic lung inflammation presents dichotomous outcomes: pulmonary emphysema and interstitial fibrosis.
The overlapping mechanisms driving these divergent pathological trajectories remain poorly understood.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the role of percolation phenomena and extracellular matrix crosslinking in determining chronic lung inflammation outcomes.
To explore how critical thresholds influence transitions toward emphysema or fibrosis.

Main Methods:

Examination of network theory principles, specifically percolation phenomena.
Analysis of extracellular matrix (ECM) crosslinking mechanisms, including collagen and elastin.
Review of feedback loops amplifying initial perturbations in lung tissue.

Main Results:

Critical percolation thresholds dictate whether lung tissue undergoes structural failure (emphysema) or rigidification (fibrosis).
ECM crosslinking dynamics and feedback loops are key factors in pushing inflamed lungs toward divergent structural outcomes.
Understanding these percolation-dependent transitions offers insight into varied responses to similar inflammatory insults.

Conclusions:

Percolation phenomena and ECM crosslinking are crucial determinants of emphysema versus fibrosis in chronic lung inflammation.
Identifying these critical thresholds may reveal novel therapeutic targets for lung diseases.
This framework provides a new perspective on the opposing structural outcomes of lung inflammation.