Mughda Joglekar

Research

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (CODP) is a disease characterized by obstructive airflow and damaged lung tissue which leads to breathing problems, excessive sputum production, and chronic cough in patients. It is caused following prolonged inhalation of noxious gases such as during smoking and air pollution. These toxic particles stimulate structural and immune cells to secrete cytokines and proteases in their microenvironment that invoke immune responses and remodel the extracellular matrix (ECM). The ECM in turn affects cellular function and fate. However, the crucial role of the ECM in pathobiology of COPD remains largely unknown. I am interested in understanding the interaction between COPD-ECM and infiltrating immune cells such as neutrophils and monocytes on their function and survival. I am also exmaining ECM fragments, bioactive ECM components generated during remodelling, as potential biomarkers of disease status and progression. Simultaneously, I am investigating a novel lung-adhesive biomaterial as a bronchoscopic lung volume reduction (BLVR) technique as an alternative intervention for patients affected by severe emphysema.

Keywords: ECM, COPD, innate immune response, ECM fragments, lung-adhesive, BLVR