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Optimizing New In Vitro Methodologies For Assessing The Effects Of Mechanical Stimuli On Lung Cells: Implications For Lung Biology And Disease, Alicia E. Tanneberger

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

Chronic lung diseases affect millions of people in the United States and are a leading cause of both morbidity and mortality. Studying how environmental factors affect lung cell biology and function is being increasingly recognized as a critical step in understanding lung disease pathogenesis and the development of new therapeutic approaches that combat lung diseases. These factors include lung extracellular matrix (ECM) composition and the mechanobiological factors of stiffness and cyclic mechanical strain, which during breathing, act on cells during the normal expansion and contraction of the lung. However, current methodologies for studying these factors have significant limitations and new …