哮喘联盟

   摘要
   哮喘具有慢性炎症和气道重塑的特点。重建是指哮喘患者气道的结构变化，在哮喘的发病机制中起到关键作用。虽然最近已在了解气道重建的不同方面取得了显著的进步，但对控制这些变化的确切的生物学机制仍然知之甚少。哮喘患者气道平滑肌物质增多，部分原因是由于平滑肌的增生，是气道重建的一个非常重要的组成部分，对此已达成广泛的共识。然而，对于这些气道平滑肌细胞的起源仍然存在较大争议。本篇综述将探讨哮喘气道重建的自然史，并讨论前体细胞、干细胞和上皮细胞在间充质细胞的变化过程中可能起的作用，即观察到的哮喘患者气道平滑肌增生。

 

                                 (林江涛 审校)
BMC Med. 2013 Jun 6;11(1):145. [Epub ahead of print]

 

Origins of increased airway smooth muscle mass in asthma.
 

Berair R, Saunders R, Brightling CE.
 

Abstract
Asthma is characterized by both chronic inflammation and airway remodeling. Remodeling - the structural changes seen in asthmatic airways - is pivotal in the pathogenesis of the disease. Although significant advances have been made recently in understanding the different aspects of airway remodeling, the exact biology governing these changes remains poorly understood. There is broad agreement that, in asthma, increased airway smooth muscle mass, in part due to smooth muscle hyperplasia, is a very significant component of airway remodeling. However, significant debate persists on the origins of these airway smooth muscle cells. In this review article we will explore the natural history of airway remodeling in asthma and we will discuss the possible contribution of progenitors, stem cells and epithelial cells in mesenchymal cell changes, namely airway smooth muscle hyperplasia seen in the asthmatic airways.
 

BMC Med. 2013 Jun 6;11(1):145. [Epub ahead of print]