Physics of the lungs: how does mechanical tension affect cell function and tissue integrity?

• Applicant: Professorin Dr. Mareike Zink
• Subject Area: Statistical Physics, Nonlinear Dynamics, Complex Systems, Soft and Fluid Matter, Biological Physics ; Biophysics ; Experimental Condensed Matter Physics
• Term: since 2026
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 574053419

Within the last years, more and more studies observed that many diseases are not only caused by biological changed of the underlying cells and tissues, but there are many physical properties involved in these processes. In fact, during cancer progression, wound healing and the deterioration of lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cell dynamics and migration play a crucial role. Additionally, biomechanical properties such as cell stiffness are tightly connected to its function. One of the best-known examples where tissue mechanics is closely linked to organ function is the lung, which is constantly moving and under mechanical tension. During inspiration, the bronchi and alveoli enlarge and the surfaces of the underlying epithelia expand. In fact, during normal breathing, a negative pressure outside the lung causes a tension and tissue stretch during inflation. In contrast, during mechanical ventilation (MV) a positive pressure inside the lung forces the tissue to expand. However, it is known for decades that MV can have severe negative side-effects such as ventilation-induced injury and volutrauma which origin is not fully understood. Nevertheless, MV is often the only life-saving strategy for patients whose lungs cannot fulfil the required gas exchange anymore. As shown by our previous study, the mechanical response of lung tissue is different under tension which occurs during normal breathing compared to tissue compression, happening as a result of increasing positive pressure inside the lungs during MV. How lung inflation affects epithelial cell function within the bronchi and alveoli, remains elusive. This project aims to elucidate the physics of lung epithelial monolayers under stretch. By setting up an epithelial cell monolayer stretcher which mimics the surface increase and bending of lung tissue during inflation, we will investigate the impact of stresses and strain during MV. In more detail, quantification of cell dynamics within the bent and stretched cell sheets can give rise to the question if renewal and regeneration of epithelial tissue after ventilation-induced injury can be possible. Additionally, we will address stress relaxation and cell-cell interaction during deformation – important for epithelial function and integrity. Since recent studies showed that COPD is one of the leading causes of death in women exceeding the mortality of breast and lung cancer combined, this project aims to shed more light into the physics of lung cells, disease and ventilation-induced injury.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Japan
• Co-Investigator: Professor Dr. Takeshi Kawasaki