title: Do inflammatory mediators influence the contribution of airway smooth muscle contraction to airway hyperresponsiveness in asthma?
abstract: It is now accepted that a host of cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, and other inflammatory mediators contributes to the development of nonspecific airway hyperresponsiveness in asthma. Yet, relatively little is known about how inflammatory mediators might promote airway structural remodeling or about the molecular mechanisms by which they might exaggerate smooth muscle shortening as observed in asthmatic airways. Taking a deep inspiration, which provides relief of bronchodilation in normal subjects, is less effective in asthmatic subjects, and some have speculated that this deficiency stems directly from an abnormality of airway smooth muscle and results in airway hyperresponsiveness to constrictor agonists. Here, we consider some of the mechanisms by which inflammatory mediators might acutely or chronically induce changes in the contractile apparatus that in turn might contribute to hyperresponsive airways in asthma.
authors.affiliation: Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
authors.forename: Darren J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.forename: Richard W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: Oren
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Lakser
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dowell
authors.forename: Alastair G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: Julian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Solway
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism*; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D018836:Inflammation Mediators