Cellular and molecular mechanisms regulating airway smooth muscle physiology and pharmacology

摘要

Airway smooth muscle (ASM) in asthma is the pivotal cell regulating bronchomotor tone. Recent evidence suggests that ASM may also modulate airway inflammation and perpetuate airway remodeling. A variety of signaling pathways regulate ASM cytokine-chemokine secretion as well as cell adhesion molecule expression. Interestingly, these signaling pathways appear to be disparate from those of trafficking leukocytes. In this review, excitation-contraction coupling as well as synthetic function of ASM, defined as the ability to secrete immunomodulatory cytokines and chemokines and to express cell surface receptors that are important in cell adhesion and leukocyte activation, will be reviewed. Pharmacologic approaches to modify the synthetic function of ASM and how altered synthetic function may contribute to airway remodeling will also be defined.