Fig. 1From: Alveolar cells under mechanical stressed niche: critical contributors to pulmonary fibrosisThe three major sources of mechanical stress in pulmonary fibrosis. a Micro injuries in the initiation stage alter local epithelium and endothelium permeability and cell junction. b Mechanical ventilation induced alveoli stretch. c Excessive ECM deposition after the establishment of fibrosis forms a vicious cycle of pro-fibrotic stateBack to article page