Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a serious lung condition in which fluid builds up in the air sacs, making it hard to breathe and often requiring intensive care. Older adults fare worse because their lung-lining cells lose the ability to heal properly after injury This study will explore two key molecules-RSPO3 and Syndecan-1 (SDC-1)-that normally help alveolar (air-sac) cells regenerate. We will collect small blood samples from ARDS patients and, when patients undergo elective lung surgery, tiny pieces of healthy lung tissue. In the lab, we will also grow three-dimensional "lung organoids" from these samples to see how boosting or blocking RSPO3/SDC-1 affects cell repair
Our goals are to:
Measure RSPO3/SDC-1 activity alongside inflammatory markers (e.g., IL-6, TNF-α) to understand their roles in age-related repair failure.
Build an integrated platform for early diagnosis, disease monitoring, and treatment evaluation in older ARDS patients.
Identify molecular targets that could lead to new therapies, helping older adults recover lung function more effectively.
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