Concept figure of lung fibrosis (IMAGE)
Caption
Blue Light Stiffens Lung Tissue by Strengthening Its Protein Scaffold
The research team targeted the lung’s extracellular matrix — the network of proteins like collagen and fibronectin that surround and support cells — to better understand early fibrosis. By shining blue light on healthy mouse lung tissue, they triggered the formation of special chemical bonds called dityrosine bonds, shown here as green fluorescent signals. These bonds increase tissue stiffness in specific locations, allowing scientists to mimic the first physical changes that may lead to lung fibrosis.
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Penn Engineering/Claudia Loebel
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