INTRODUCTION: Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) is characterized by aberrant ECM deposition and remodeling of the lung – structural changes which further drive a pro-fibrotic cellular microenvironment. Decellularized lung ECM-derived hydrogels resemble the mechanical properties of native decellularized tissues, potentially providing a 3D model mimicking native cell-ECM interactions. We aimed to characterize this 3D human lung microenvironment model, with respect to stiffness and viscoelastic properties, in the presence and absence of primary human lung fibroblasts.
METHODS: Lyophilized powders of decellularized IPF and control lung matrices (pooled from 6 donors per group) were pepsin digested, and formed to hydrogels seeded with control primary lung fibroblasts (n=6 donors), and cultured for 14 days. Stiffness and viscoelastic relaxation were measured by Low-Load Compression Testing (20% strain). 
RESULTS: IPF hydrogels showed a trend towards higher stiffness compared to control hydrogels and cell-seeded IPF hydrogels were significantly stiffer than cell-seeded controls (1.85 ± 0.48 kPA vs 1.04 ± 0.22 kPA, p=0.0183, Kruskal-Wallis test) (Fig. 1). Time to reach 100% viscoelastic relaxation was similar in cell-seeded compared to native hydrogels for both IPF and control hydrogels. Total percentage relaxation of cell-seeded IPF hydrogels was significantly lower than of cell-seeded control hydrogels (108.4% ± 2.39% vs 117.6% ± 3.63%, p=0.0495, Kruskal-Wallis test) while empty hydrogels reached comparable values. The percentage relaxation was in general lower in IPF hydrogels than control hydrogels (cell-seeded or not). 
DISCUSSION & CONCLUSIONS: The mechanical properties of the ECM hydrogels were modified by fibroblasts and the source of the ECM influenced these modifications. These data suggest that higher stiffnesses and altered relaxation patterns of the ECM may be involved in fibrotic responses in IPF. Fibroblast-seeded ECM-derived hydrogels can provide more insight on cell-ECM interactions 


Fibroblast-seeded lung extracellular matrix- derived hydrogels as an in vitro model for stromal bed in  Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF)

poster

[![](https://assets.underline.io/uploads/markdown_image/1/image/261902fdf187a88bfa74da226ff77186.png)](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gUViQJJHCSgM38OhwpDoTdN89evCsZ-7/view?usp=sharing)
[![](https://assets.underline.io/uploads/markdown_image/1/image/1605292c232e6f185c7f87ee38e8502a.png)](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kPkznVX_6cx-n846z_pUtyVDZql9KImc/view?usp=sharing)


### **Welcome Message**

Welcome to the inaugural **Dutch Lung Congress.**  We have all missed our opportunities to network and interact with our colleagues in the last twelve months or more.  While our desire was to meet face to face once again, when it became evident that this would not be possible until much later in 2021 (or even into 2022) the hard working committee organizing the Dutch Lung Congress found, what we hope will be, an excellent alternative to facilitate our annual meeting.

The Dutch Lung Congress aims to bring together everyone interested in research related to pulmonary diseases in the Netherlands.  We hope this event will provide opportunities for multidisciplinary interactions to enhance our approaches for addressing these challenging diseases.  Each session will include input from patients, clinical and basic and/or translational scientists discussing the latest information around the central themes chosen by the organizing committee.  One advantage of holding our congress as a virtual event this year is that we will have the opportunity to hear from world leading experts from all over the globe.  We hope you enjoy the programme the organizing committee have put together and will engage in dynamic discussions with all the speakers.

One highlight of our congress will be the Young Investigator Session.  Remember to join us for this exciting session when we will hear from the presenters who submitted the top scoring abstracts.  This promises to be a session full of exciting science that will display the strengths that constitute the future talent in our field.

When we are not listening to these great presentations we can all meet in Gathertown.  Within this interactive platform you will be able to meet colleagues and friends for networking. Enjoy a private chat over a virtual coffee, visit the booths of our sponsors and other parties, chat with the Young Investigator Board members or take some timeout in the relaxation spaces.  While in Gathertown take the opportunity to visit all the diverse posters on display. Chat live with the presenters or leave them a question on the discussion board for them to engage with you.  Make sure you check for any messages each time you enter Gathertown to make the most of your networking opportunities.

We look forward to seeing you during the DLC and the great scientific (and other) discussions we are anticipating during our 2021 meeting.

On behalf of the DLC organizing Committee
<br>**Janette Burgess
<br>Chair, DLC Organizing Committee**
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### Special Session: Publieksmiddag
![](https://assets.underline.io/uploads/markdown_image/1/image/77e768dd500e6205175e5cafba59abdc.png)






![](https://assets.underline.io/uploads/markdown_image/1/image/f461fb275d9667fb2a76a30813388e90.png)
**More about the committee team:**:
[Barbro N. Melgert, PhD] (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1q_IIH3JvTivumCUzzsZGX7BgD41HxQmk/view?usp=sharing)
// [Bas Holverda, PhD] (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QKXHmTTQjgs4OZVuM8doXU055S-fu_uU/view?usp=sharing)
// [Frits Franssen, PhD] (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1d7HRUJaqGuRFzkPN3SVgkbBfqFkDkWq2/view?usp=sharing)
// [Janette Burgess, PhD] (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VHFlrEN6uCQGeeW3Lj4I8aTw7HsB0GFr/view?usp=sharing)
// [Michel van den Heuvel, PhD] (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JeOEP8MHxiK_4lONr8UM2HaxdxpkAmA2/view?usp=sharing)
// [Patrick Bhairosing] (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xI8ORq-g1bbVcrlRDviZ9NhAwanc4dFl/view?usp=sharing)
// [Gimano Amatngalim, PhD] (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fyVDDKARLNjRk_JZk8_GyhGMjmp6DWHp/view?usp=sharing)
// [Peter Kunst, PhD] (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QhtB4nQezpAjbfUAcBnINc-Bm3Shy2Lf/view?usp=sharing)
// [Dr. Michel van den Heuvel, Prof., MD, PhD] (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JBdNEBXZCEikEZhJ6MoD5DhQfXMz3bP6/view?usp=sharing)
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Kaj E.C. Blokland

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Fibroblast-seeded lung extracellular matrix- derived hydrogels as an in vitro model for stromal bed in  Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF)

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Fibroblast-seeded lung extracellular matrix- derived hydrogels as an in vitro model for stromal bed in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF)

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Fibroblast-seeded lung extracellular matrix- derived hydrogels as an in vitro model for stromal bed in  Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF)