The Collagen and Elastin Content of the Lung in Emphysema

Abstract

Connective tissue fibers maintain the normal arrangement of lung structure. These are scleroprotein fibers: collagen, elastin, and reticulin. They are characterized by their insolubility, their relative permanence, and their high tensile strength. They form a delicate but strong network to suspend those components of the lungs that are essential for the exchange of gases. Pulmonary emphysema is characterized by a distortion of lung architecture, hence is a disturbance in the geometric arrangement of connective tissue fibers in the lungs. Histologic studies in emphysema often have been interpreted as revealing marked changes in the amounts of connective tissues in the lung.