Gunilla Westergren-Thorsson

Key Publications

1. Alveolar epithelial cells are competent producers of interstitial extracellular matrix with disease relevant plasticity in a human in vitro 3D model. Rosmark O, Kadefors M, Dellgren G, Karlsson C, Ericsson A, Lindstedt S, Malmström J, Hallgren O, Larsson-Callerfelt AK, Westergren-Thorsson G. Sci Rep. 2023 May 31;13(1):8801.

2. hLMSC Secretome Affects Macrophage Activity Differentially Depending on Lung-Mimetic Environments. Falcones B, Söderlund Z, Ibáñez-Fonseca A, Almendros I, Otero J, Farré R, Rolandsson Enes S, Elowsson Rendin L, Westergren-Thorsson G. Cells. 2022 Jun 8;11(12):1866.

3. Controlled release of growth factors using synthetic glycosaminoglycans in a modular macroporous scaffold for tissue regeneration. Söderlund Z, Ibáñez-Fonseca A, Hajizadeh S, Rodríguez-Cabello JC, Liu J, Ye L, Tykesson E, Elowsson L, Westergren-Thorsson G. Commun Biol. 2022 Dec 8;5(1):1349.

4. Harnessing the ECM Microenvironment to Ameliorate Mesenchymal Stromal Cell-Based Therapy in Chronic Lung Diseases. Elowsson Rendin L, Löfdahl A, Kadefors M, Söderlund Z, Tykesson E, Rolandsson Enes S, Wigén J, Westergren-Thorsson G. Front Pharmacol. 2021 Apr 15;12:645558.

5. Impaired Differentiation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Bronchial Epithelial Cells Grown on Bronchial Scaffolds. Hedström U, Öberg L, Vaarala O, Dellgren G, Silverborn M, Bjermer L, Westergren-Thorsson G, Hallgren O, Zhou X. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 2021 Aug;65(2):201-213.

6. Matrisome Properties of Scaffolds Direct Fibroblasts in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. Elowsson Rendin L, Löfdahl A, Åhrman E, Müller C, Notermans T, Michaliková B, Rosmark O, Zhou XH, Dellgren G, Silverborn M, Bjermer L, Malmström A, Larsson-Callerfelt AK, Isaksson H, Malmström J, Westergren-Thorsson G. Int J Mol Sci. 2019 Aug 17;20(16):4013.

We investigate the dynamics of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and the cell–ECM crosstalk in lung health and disease. Utilizing advanced histological, transcriptomic, proteomic, and elemental analyses, we explore epithelial–mesenchymal niches in the lung and how they influence inflammation, tissue repair, and remodeling—processes central to chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), and bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS). Our research aims to contribute to the development of novel diagnostic markers and therapeutic strategies, ultimately improving outcomes for patients with debilitating pulmonary conditions.

Group Members:

Linda Elowsson
Arturo Ibáñez-Fonseca
Bryan Falcones
Anna Cederberg
Barbora Svobodová
Tom Delaire
Dimitrios Kalafatis

Last updated: 2025-06-03

Content Responsible: Hampus Pehrsson Ternström(hampus.persson@scilifelab.uu.se)

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