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Zimmermann R, Roeder F, Ruppert C, Smith BJ, Knudsen L. Low-volume ventilation of preinjured lungs degrades lung function via stress concentration and progressive alveolar collapse. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2024; 327:L19-L39. [PMID: 38712429 DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00323.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Mechanical ventilation can cause ventilation-induced lung injury (VILI). The concept of stress concentrations suggests that surfactant dysfunction-induced microatelectases might impose injurious stresses on adjacent, open alveoli and function as germinal centers for injury propagation. The aim of the present study was to quantify the histopathological pattern of VILI progression and to test the hypothesis that injury progresses at the interface between microatelectases and ventilated lung parenchyma during low-positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) ventilation. Bleomycin was used to induce lung injury with microatelectases in rats. Lungs were then mechanically ventilated for up to 6 h at PEEP = 1 cmH2O and compared with bleomycin-treated group ventilated protectively with PEEP = 5 cmH2O to minimize microatelectases. Lung mechanics were measured during ventilation. Afterward, lungs were fixed at end-inspiration or end-expiration for design-based stereology. Before VILI, bleomycin challenge reduced the number of open alveoli [N(alvair,par)] by 29%. No differences between end-inspiration and end-expiration were observed. Collapsed alveoli clustered in areas with a radius of up to 56 µm. After PEEP = 5 cmH2O ventilation for 6 h, N(alvair,par) remained stable while PEEP = 1 cmH2O ventilation led to an additional loss of aerated alveoli by 26%, mainly due to collapse, with a small fraction partly edema filled. Alveolar loss strongly correlated to worsening of tissue elastance, quasistatic compliance, and inspiratory capacity. The radius of areas of collapsed alveoli increased to 94 µm, suggesting growth of the microatelectases. These data provide evidence that alveoli become unstable in neighborhood of microatelectases, which most likely occurs due to stress concentration-induced local vascular leak and surfactant dysfunction.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Low-volume mechanical ventilation in the presence of high surface tension-induced microatelectases leads to the degradation of lung mechanical function via the progressive loss of alveoli. Microatelectases grow at the interfaces of collapsed and open alveoli. Here, stress concentrations might cause injury and alveolar instability. Accumulation of small amounts of alveolar edema can be found in a fraction of partly collapsed alveoli but, in this model, alveolar flooding is not a major driver for degradation of lung mechanics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Zimmermann
- Institute of Functional and Applied Anatomy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Franziska Roeder
- Institute of Functional and Applied Anatomy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Clemens Ruppert
- Department of Internal Medicine, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
- University of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC), member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Giessen, Germany
| | - Bradford J Smith
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Design & Computing, University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, United States
- Section of Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, United States
| | - Lars Knudsen
- Institute of Functional and Applied Anatomy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease Hannover (BREATH), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
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Gottman DC, Smith BJ. A scale-free model of acute and ventilator-induced lung injury: a network theory approach inspired by seismology. FRONTIERS IN NETWORK PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 4:1392701. [PMID: 38757066 PMCID: PMC11097687 DOI: 10.3389/fnetp.2024.1392701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Introduction Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) presents a significant clinical challenge, with ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI) being a critical complication arising from life-saving mechanical ventilation. Understanding the spatial and temporal dynamics of VILI can inform therapeutic strategies to mitigate lung damage and improve outcomes. Methods Histological sections from initially healthy mice and pulmonary lavage-injured mice subjected to a second hit of VILI were segmented with Ilastik to define regions of lung injury. A scale-free network approach was applied to assess the correlation between injury regions, with regions of injury represented as 'nodes' in the network and 'edges' quantifying the degree of correlation between nodes. A simulated time series analysis was conducted to emulate the temporal sequence of injury events. Results Automated segmentation identified different lung regions in good agreement with manual scoring, achieving a sensitivity of 78% and a specificity of 85% across 'injury' pixels. Overall accuracy across 'injury', 'air', and 'other' pixels was 81%. The size of injured regions followed a power-law distribution, suggesting a 'rich-get-richer' phenomenon in the distribution of lung injury. Network analysis revealed a scale-free distribution of injury correlations, highlighting hubs of injury that could serve as focal points for therapeutic intervention. Simulated time series analysis further supported the concept of secondary injury events following an initial insult, with patterns resembling those observed in seismological studies of aftershocks. Conclusion The size distribution of injured regions underscores the spatially heterogeneous nature of acute and ventilator-induced lung injury. The application of network theory demonstrates the emergence of injury 'hubs' that are consistent with a 'rich-get-richer' dynamic. Simulated time series analysis demonstrates that the progression of injury events in the lung could follow spatiotemporal patterns similar to the progression of aftershocks in seismology, providing new insights into the mechanisms of injury distribution and propagation. Both phenomena suggest a potential for interventions targeting these injury 'hubs' to reduce the impact of VILI in ARDS management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Drew C. Gottman
- University of Colorado School of Medicine, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Bradford J. Smith
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
- Section of Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO, United States
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Knudsen L, Hummel B, Wrede C, Zimmermann R, Perlman CE, Smith BJ. Acinar micromechanics in health and lung injury: what we have learned from quantitative morphology. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1142221. [PMID: 37025383 PMCID: PMC10070844 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1142221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Within the pulmonary acini ventilation and blood perfusion are brought together on a huge surface area separated by a very thin blood-gas barrier of tissue components to allow efficient gas exchange. During ventilation pulmonary acini are cyclically subjected to deformations which become manifest in changes of the dimensions of both alveolar and ductal airspaces as well as the interalveolar septa, composed of a dense capillary network and the delicate tissue layer forming the blood-gas barrier. These ventilation-related changes are referred to as micromechanics. In lung diseases, abnormalities in acinar micromechanics can be linked with injurious stresses and strains acting on the blood-gas barrier. The mechanisms by which interalveolar septa and the blood-gas barrier adapt to an increase in alveolar volume have been suggested to include unfolding, stretching, or changes in shape other than stretching and unfolding. Folding results in the formation of pleats in which alveolar epithelium is not exposed to air and parts of the blood-gas barrier are folded on each other. The opening of a collapsed alveolus (recruitment) can be considered as an extreme variant of septal wall unfolding. Alveolar recruitment can be detected with imaging techniques which achieve light microscopic resolution. Unfolding of pleats and stretching of the blood-gas barrier, however, require electron microscopic resolution to identify the basement membrane. While stretching results in an increase of the area of the basement membrane, unfolding of pleats and shape changes do not. Real time visualization of these processes, however, is currently not possible. In this review we provide an overview of septal wall micromechanics with focus on unfolding/folding as well as stretching. At the same time we provide a state-of-the-art design-based stereology methodology to quantify microarchitecture of alveoli and interalveolar septa based on different imaging techniques and design-based stereology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lars Knudsen
- Institute of Functional and Applied Anatomy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease Hannover (BREATH), Member of the German Centre for Lung Research (DZL), Hannover, Germany
| | - Benjamin Hummel
- Institute of Functional and Applied Anatomy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Christoph Wrede
- Institute of Functional and Applied Anatomy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- Research Core Unit Electron Microscopy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Richard Zimmermann
- Institute of Functional and Applied Anatomy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Carrie E Perlman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ, United States
| | - Bradford J Smith
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering Design and Computing, University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
- Department of Pediatric Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
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Middleton S, Dimbath E, Pant A, George SM, Maddipati V, Peach MS, Yang K, Ju AW, Vahdati A. Towards a multi-scale computer modeling workflow for simulation of pulmonary ventilation in advanced COVID-19. Comput Biol Med 2022; 145:105513. [PMID: 35447459 PMCID: PMC9005224 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2022.105513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Physics-based multi-scale in silico models offer an excellent opportunity to study the effects of heterogeneous tissue damage on airflow and pressure distributions in COVID-19-afflicted lungs. The main objective of this study is to develop a computational modeling workflow, coupling airflow and tissue mechanics as the first step towards a virtual hypothesis-testing platform for studying injury mechanics of COVID-19-afflicted lungs. We developed a CT-based modeling approach to simulate the regional changes in lung dynamics associated with heterogeneous subject-specific COVID-19-induced damage patterns in the parenchyma. Furthermore, we investigated the effect of various levels of inflammation in a meso-scale acinar mechanics model on global lung dynamics. Our simulation results showed that as the severity of damage in the patient's right lower, left lower, and to some extent in the right upper lobe increased, ventilation was redistributed to the least injured right middle and left upper lobes. Furthermore, our multi-scale model reasonably simulated a decrease in overall tidal volume as the level of tissue injury and surfactant loss in the meso-scale acinar mechanics model was increased. This study presents a major step towards multi-scale computational modeling workflows capable of simulating the effect of subject-specific heterogenous COVID-19-induced lung damage on ventilation dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shea Middleton
- Department of Engineering, College of Engineering and Technology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA
| | - Elizabeth Dimbath
- Department of Engineering, College of Engineering and Technology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA
| | - Anup Pant
- Department of Engineering, College of Engineering and Technology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA
| | - Stephanie M. George
- Department of Engineering, College of Engineering and Technology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA
| | - Veeranna Maddipati
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Medicine, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA
| | - M. Sean Peach
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA
| | - Kaida Yang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA
| | - Andrew W. Ju
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA
| | - Ali Vahdati
- Department of Engineering, College of Engineering and Technology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA,Corresponding author. Ross Hall, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA
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Linking Fibrotic Remodeling and Ultrastructural Alterations of Alveolar Epithelial Cells after Deletion of Nedd4-2. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22147607. [PMID: 34299227 PMCID: PMC8306112 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22147607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Our previous study showed that in adult mice, conditional Nedd4-2-deficiency in club and alveolar epithelial type II (AE2) cells results in impaired mucociliary clearance, accumulation of Muc5b and progressive, terminal pulmonary fibrosis within 16 weeks. In the present study, we investigated ultrastructural alterations of the alveolar epithelium in relation to interstitial remodeling in alveolar septa as a function of disease progression. Two, eight and twelve weeks after induction of Nedd4-2 knockout, lungs were fixed and subjected to design-based stereological investigation at the light and electron microscopic level. Quantitative data did not show any abnormalities until 8 weeks compared to controls. At 12 weeks, however, volume of septal wall tissue increased while volume of acinar airspace and alveolar surface area significantly decreased. Volume and surface area of alveolar epithelial type I cells were reduced, which could not be compensated by a corresponding increase of AE2 cells. The volume of collagen fibrils in septal walls increased and was linked with an increase in blood–gas barrier thickness. A high correlation between parameters reflecting interstitial remodeling and abnormal AE2 cell ultrastructure could be established. Taken together, abnormal regeneration of the alveolar epithelium is correlated with interstitial septal wall remodeling.
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Dimbath E, Maddipati V, Stahl J, Sewell K, Domire Z, George S, Vahdati A. Implications of microscale lung damage for COVID-19 pulmonary ventilation dynamics: A narrative review. Life Sci 2021; 274:119341. [PMID: 33716059 PMCID: PMC7946865 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2021.119341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Revised: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic surges on as vast research is produced to study the novel SARS-CoV-2 virus and the disease state it induces. Still, little is known about the impact of COVID-19-induced microscale damage in the lung on global lung dynamics. This review summarizes the key histological features of SARS-CoV-2 infected alveoli and links the findings to structural tissue changes and surfactant dysfunction affecting tissue mechanical behavior similar to changes seen in other lung injury. Along with typical findings of diffuse alveolar damage affecting the interstitium of the alveolar walls and blood-gas barrier in the alveolar airspace, COVID-19 can cause extensive microangiopathy in alveolar capillaries that further contribute to mechanical changes in the tissues and may differentiate it from previously studied infectious lung injury. Understanding microlevel damage impact on tissue mechanics allows for better understanding of macroscale respiratory dynamics. Knowledge gained from studies into the relationship between microscale and macroscale lung mechanics can allow for optimized treatments to improve patient outcomes in case of COVID-19 and future respiratory-spread pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Dimbath
- Department of Engineering, College of Engineering and Technology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA
| | | | - Jennifer Stahl
- Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA
| | - Kerry Sewell
- Laupus Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA
| | - Zachary Domire
- Department of Kinesiology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA
| | - Stephanie George
- Department of Engineering, College of Engineering and Technology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA
| | - Ali Vahdati
- Department of Engineering, College of Engineering and Technology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA.
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Wu Y, Nguyen TL, Perlman CE. Intravenous sulforhodamine B reduces alveolar surface tension, improves oxygenation, and reduces ventilation injury in a respiratory distress model. J Appl Physiol (1985) 2020; 130:1305-1316. [PMID: 33211596 DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00421.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
In the neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), mechanical ventilation supports gas exchange but can cause ventilation-induced lung injury (VILI) that contributes to high mortality. Further, surface tension, T, should be elevated and VILI is proportional to T. Surfactant therapy is effective in NRDS but not ARDS. Sulforhodamine B (SRB) is a potential alternative T-lowering therapeutic. In anesthetized male rats, we injure the lungs with 15 min of 42 mL/kg tidal volume, VT, and zero end-expiratory pressure ventilation. Then, over 4 h, we support the rats with protective ventilation-VT of 6 mL/kg with positive end-expiratory pressure. At the start of the support period, we administer intravenous non-T-altering fluorescein (targeting 27 µM in plasma) without or with therapeutic SRB (10 nM). Throughout the support period, we increase inspired oxygen fraction, as necessary, to maintain >90% arterial oxygen saturation. At the end of the support period, we euthanize the rat; sample systemic venous blood for injury marker ELISAs; excise the lungs; combine confocal microscopy and servo-nulling pressure measurement to determine T in situ in the lungs; image fluorescein in alveolar liquid to assess local permeability; and determine lavage protein content and wet-to-dry ratio (W/D) to assess global permeability. Lungs exhibit focal injury. Surface tension is elevated 72% throughout control lungs and in uninjured regions of SRB-treated lungs, but normal in injured regions of treated lungs. SRB administration improves oxygenation, reduces W/D, and reduces plasma injury markers. Intravenous SRB holds promise as a therapy for respiratory distress.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Sulforhodmaine B lowers T in alveolar edema liquid. Given the problematic intratracheal delivery of surfactant therapy for ARDS, intravenous SRB might constitute an alternative therapeutic. In a lung injury model, we find that intravenously administered SRB crosses the injured alveolar-capillary barrier thus reduces T specifically in injured lung regions; improves oxygenation; and reduces the degree of further lung injury. Intravenous SRB administration might help respiratory distress patients, including those with the novel coronavirus, avoid mechanical ventilation or, once ventilated, survive.
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Affiliation(s)
- You Wu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, New Jersey
| | - Tam L Nguyen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, New Jersey
| | - Carrie E Perlman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, New Jersey
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Nguyen TL, Perlman CE. Sulforhodamine B and exogenous surfactant effects on alveolar surface tension under acute respiratory distress syndrome conditions. J Appl Physiol (1985) 2020; 129:1505-1513. [PMID: 32969780 DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00422.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
In the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), alveolar surface tension, T, may be elevated. Elevated T should increase ventilation-induced lung injury. Exogenous surfactant therapy, intended to lower T, has not reduced mortality. Sulforhodamine B (SRB) might, alternatively, be used to lower T. We test whether substances suspected of elevating T in ARDS raise T in the lungs and test the abilities of exogenous surfactant and SRB to reduce T. In isolated rat lungs, we micropuncture a surface alveolus and instill a solution of a purported T-raising substance: control saline, cell debris, secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2), acid, or mucins. We test each substance alone; with albumin, to model proteinaceous edema liquid; with albumin and exogenous surfactant; and with albumin and SRB. We determine T in situ in the lungs by combining servo-nulling pressure measurement with confocal microscopy and applying the Laplace relation. With control saline, albumin does not alter T, additional surfactant raises T, and additional SRB lowers T. The experimental substances, without or with albumin, raise T. Excepting under aspiration conditions, addition of surfactant or SRB lowers T. Exogenous surfactant activity is concentration and ventilation dependent. Sulforhodamine B, which could be delivered intravascularly, holds promise as an alternative therapeutic.NEW & NOTEWORTHY In the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), lowering surface tension, T, should reduce ventilation injury yet exogenous surfactant has not reduced mortality. We show with direct T determination in isolated lungs that substances suggested to elevate T in ARDS indeed raise T, and exogenous surfactant reduces T. Further, we extend our previous finding that sulforhodamine B (SRB) reduces T below normal in healthy lungs and show that SRB, too, reduces T under ARDS conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tam L Nguyen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, New Jersey
| | - Carrie E Perlman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, New Jersey
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