Diaphragm Muscle Trophicity: The Long and Short of Titin Mechanosensing

The diaphragm is the primary muscle of ventilation. Pathology involving the diaphragm is severely detrimental for the quality of life. Gaining insight into the mechanisms underlying changes in diaphragm trophicity is vital for understanding muscle plasticity. One of these mechanisms involves titin mechanosensing, a mechanism that may be harnessed to counter adverse changes in diaphragm pathology. The aims of this dissertation were to gain insight into the relation of titin-mechanosensing and diaphragm trophicity, and how this relates to the pathomechanism of diaphragm weakness following mechanical ventilation.