Dynamic mechanical stimulation of alveolar epithelial-fibroblast models using the Flexcell tension system to study of lung disease mechanisms.

ABSTRACT: Mechanical strain plays a significant role in lung pathophysiology. Current two-dimensional (2D) in vitro models fail to capture the lung's dynamic mechanical environment. We developed mechanically strained 2D and more complex three-dimensional (3D) alveolar epithelial-fibroblast co-cultures and organoids using the Flexcell cell stretching bioreactor. To do this we used readily available human A549 epithelial cells and MRC-5 lung fibroblasts to establish 2D and 3D alveolar co-cultures and collagen-I-gel-embedded organoid models in the Flexcell and then strained them at 18% amplitude, 0.4 Hz for 24 h to mimic a pathological environment. The impact of mechanical strain on cell proliferation, morphology, cytoskeletal and tight junctional protein expression, interleukin-6 and-8 (IL-6, I

SUBMITTER: Al Yazeedi S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12401065 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature