Percolation of collagen stress in a random network model of the alveolar wall.

ABSTRACT: Fibrotic diseases are characterized by progressive and often irreversible scarring of connective tissue in various organs, leading to substantial changes in tissue mechanics largely as a result of alterations in collagen structure. This is particularly important in the lung because its bulk modulus is so critical to the volume changes that take place during breathing. Nevertheless, it remains unclear how fibrotic abnormalities in the mechanical properties of pulmonary connective tissue can be linked to the stiffening of its individual collagen fibers. To address this question, we developed a network model of randomly oriented collagen and elastin fibers to represent pulmonary alveolar wall tissue. We show that the stress-strain behavior of this model arises via the interactions of collagen

SUBMITTER: Casey DT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8371101 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature