Airway smooth muscle in asthma—not just more of the same

SA Shore - New England Journal of Medicine, 2004 - Mass Medical Soc
SA Shore
New England Journal of Medicine, 2004Mass Medical Soc
Airway smooth-muscle mass is increased in patients with asthma. This increase in muscle
mass is quite marked in lung sections from patients who have died of asthma, but bronchial-
biopsy studies indicate that even persons with mild-to-moderate asthma have increased
airway smooth-muscle mass. Both hypertrophy and hyperplasia appear to contribute to this
increase, and it is possible that airway smooth-muscle hyperplasia in asthma stems from the
inflammatory milieu surrounding the asthmatic muscle. There are numerous smooth-muscle …
Airway smooth-muscle mass is increased in patients with asthma. This increase in muscle mass is quite marked in lung sections from patients who have died of asthma, but bronchial-biopsy studies indicate that even persons with mild-to-moderate asthma have increased airway smooth-muscle mass. Both hypertrophy and hyperplasia appear to contribute to this increase, and it is possible that airway smooth-muscle hyperplasia in asthma stems from the inflammatory milieu surrounding the asthmatic muscle. There are numerous smooth-muscle growth factors present in the asthmatic airway. Indeed, in culture, serum or bronchoalveolar-lavage fluid from patients with asthma causes greater proliferation of human airway smooth-muscle . . .
The New England Journal Of Medicine