About this Research Topic

Background

Airflow in the alveolar cavity and interstitial flow in the interstitium of the alveolar septa are both low-Reynolds number flows, and are both influenced by the cyclically expanding-contracting motion of the alveolar walls. The structure and motion of the alveolar walls that produces alveolar airflow, also play an important role in influencing the motion of fluid in interstitial space (i.e., space between the alveolar epithelium and vascular endothelium).

The deposition (amount and pattern) of inhaled (toxic or therapeutical) particles in the alveolus is mostly determined by the alveolar flow. The force exerted by the interstitial flow has a major effect on the biology of the resident cells, such as myofibroblasts, affecting their activation state, differentiation, etc. Thus, the heterogeneity of alveolar wall thickness, mechanical properties, and movements may cause significant functional consequences. For example, the presence of cell nuclei and fiber networks may increase local thickness and provide mechanical stability and regeneration capacity in the alveolar walls. In the thin areas, the epithelium and endothelium share one common basal lamina to minimize the thickness of the diffusion barrier and to prevent fluid accumulation. Thus, since the observed heterogeneity must be partly due to the network organization, the structure and movement of alveolar walls must condition the patterns of alveolar and interstitial flows and as a consequence, influence lung biology. The disturbance of network organization, such as insults by inhaled infectious agency may cause an imbalance in heterogeneity, causing sickness.

A wide variety of research topics (from basic knowledge to applications) regarding the viscous fluid dynamics of airflow and interstitial flow and their biological consequences at the alveolar level and on lung function are welcome. We are particularly interested in the interaction between the effects of the viscous fluid dynamics conditioned by wall structure on the biology of cells, including the effect of locally deposited particles (e.g., pollutant particles, therapeutic drug particles) on the epithelium, as well as injury-mediated pulmonary fibrosis, which occurs in the septal interstitium.

Keywords: Heterogeneity, wall thickness, inhale particles, deposition site, shear force, activation and/or differentiation of the resident cells, myofibroblast, fibrosis, wound healing, Network, network physiology

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