Repair mechanisms in asthma
JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY, 98 (6, Part 2, S):
S278-S286 (December 1996)DOI: {10.1016/S0091-6749(96)70076-3}
Abstract
Asthma is classically defined in terms of reversible airflow
obstruction. It is now recognized that histologic abnormalities,
including inflammation, are a regular feature of asthma. In addition,
alterations of the structural elements of the airway wall occur
regularly in asthma. These alterations include a thickened basal lamina
comprised of interstitial collagens as well as alterations in the
mesenchymal cell population with an accumulation of myofibroblasts. It
seems likely that these connective tissue alterations in the airway wall
contribute to the physiologic abnormalities of asthma. While
controversial, the long-term physiologic sequela of asthma may depend in
large part on these changes. The biochemical and cellular basis that
leads to these changes is, as yet, unknown, but recent studies suggest
that a variety of cells in the airway, including inflammatory cells and
the cells of the airway epithelium, may participate in regulating this
response.