Asthma: the importance of epithelial mesenchymal communication in pathogenesis. Inflammation and the airway epithelium in asthma.

摘要: Asthma is a disorder of the airways in which Th-2-mediated inflammation considered to provide basis for altered structure and function that leads bronchial hyper-responsiveness (BHR) variable airflow obstruction. This linear progression underpinning asthma pathophysiology questioned on observations pathology disease early childhood, independent genetic factors influence atopy BHR, incomplete responses treatment with corticosteroids despite powerful anti-inflammatory effects recent disappointing results targeted therapies almost abolish eosinophilia blood yet produce little effect clinical outcomes asthma. An alternative hypothesis put forward atopy/airway formed airway elements are parallel but interacting factors. For develop as chronic disease, environmental drive each these components required. Fundamental this concept aberrant signalling between epithelium underlying mesenchyme persistent activation epithelial mesenchymal trophic unit.