title: Autocrine regulation of asthmatic airway inflammation: role of airway smooth muscle.
abstract: Chronic airway inflammation is one of the main features of asthma. Release of mediators from infiltrating inflammatory cells in the airway mucosa has been proposed to contribute directly or indirectly to changes in airway structure and function. The airway smooth muscle, which has been regarded as a contractile component of the airways responding to various mediators and neurotransmitters, has recently been recognised as a rich source of pro-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines and growth factors. In this review, we discuss the role of airway smooth muscle cells in the regulation and perpetuation of airway inflammation that contribute to the pathogenesis of asthma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Sue
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McKay
authors.forename: Hari S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Sharma
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019898:Autocrine Communication / Q000502:physiology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*