title: Smooth muscle progenitor cells involved in the development of airway remodeling in a murine model of asthma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The mechanisms regulating airway remodeling changes remain poorly understood. Recently, a smooth muscle progenitor cell was identified in the peripheral circulatory system that plays an important role in the reconstruction of injured blood vessels. However, to the best of our knowledge, there is no report in the medical literature regarding the role of smooth muscle progenitor cells (SPCs) in asthma.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between SPCs and the development of airway remodelling in a murine model of asthma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Chronic asthma with airway remodeling was generated by sensitizing and stimulating BALB/c mice with atomized ovalbumin (OVA). Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was collected for eosinophils (EOS) counting and histological analysis. The Ficoll method was used to isolate mononuclear cells from peripheral blood. Smooth muscle myosin heavy chain (SM-MHC) and highly glycosylated type I transmembrane protein (CD34⁺) were selected as two markers to detect the expression of SPCs by Flow Cytometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Long-term inhalation of OVA produced thickening of the epithelial and smooth muscle layer, goblet cell hyperplasia, collagen deposition around smooth muscle, luminal exudates and inflammatory cell infiltration. The number of SPCs in the asthma group was significantly higher than in the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Long-term inhalation of OVA results in airway remodeling and the smooth progenitor muscle cell are involved in the development of airway remodeling.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Guangdong Medical College, Zhanjiang, Guangdong 524023, Peoples R China.
authors.forename: Yongfu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Huiling
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Hongqiang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hanbin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Dongyun
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Qin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D018893:Bronchoalveolar Lavage; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology