Airway wall remodeling: friend or foe?

• Published in: Journal of applied physiology (1985) Vol. 95; no. 1; pp. 426 - 434
• Main Authors: McParland, Brent E, Macklem, Peter T, Pare, Peter D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD Am Physiological Soc 01.07.2003; American Physiological Society
• Subjects: Airway Resistance - physiology; Animals; Asthma - physiopathology; Biological and medical sciences; Bronchi - physiopathology; Bronchial Hyperreactivity - physiopathology; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma; Elasticity; Epithelium - physiopathology; Humans; Medical sciences; Muscle Contraction - physiology; Muscle, Smooth - anatomy & histology; Muscle, Smooth - physiology; Pneumology; Respiratory tract; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Wall; Pathophysiology; Respiratory disease; Smooth muscle; Narrowing; Obstructive pulmonary disease; Morphometry; Respiratory system; Asthma
• ISSN: 8750-7587; 1522-1601
• DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00159.2003

1 McDonald Research Laboratories/the iCAPTURE Center, St. Paul's Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6Z 1Y6; and 2 Respiratory Division and Meakins Christie Laboratories, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H2X 2P2 Airway wall remodeling is well documented for asthmatic airways and is believed to result from chronic and/or short-term exposure to inflammatory stimuli. Airway wall remodeling can contribute to airway narrowing as well as to the airway hyperresponsiveness, which is a characteristic abnormality in asthma. However, the potential for airway narrowing could be much worse if it were not for some of the protective effects of remodeling that may help to limit airway narrowing in asthmatic patients. This minireview discusses the evidence for airway wall remodeling and its effects, friend and/or foe, on airway narrowing in asthmatic patients. asthma; pathophysiology; smooth muscle Address for reprint requests and other correspondence: P. D. Paré, McDonald Research Laboratory/The i CAPTURE Center, St. Paul's Hospital, Burrard Bldg., 1081 Burrard St., Vancouver, BC, Canada V6Z 1Y6 (E-mail: ppare{at}mrl.ubc.ca ).