Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by variable degrees of airflow obstruction, leading to recurrent episodes of wheezing and dyspnea. The hallmark of asthma is infiltrating the airway with various inflammatory cells including mast cells, eosinophils, and CD4 Th2 cells. This inflammation is associated with bronchial edema and mucus hyper-production.
Airway remodeling is another major feature of asthma. It is defined as permanent structural changes in the airway walls which correlates with the severe forms of the disease. It is characterized by sup-epithelial fibrosis due to increased disposition of extracellular matrix components, epithelial desquamation, goblet cell hyperplasia, and increase in smooth muscle mass and vascular changes.
This Research Topic will focus on updates of the pathogenesis of asthma and the identification of novel pathways contributing to airway remodeling. The Research Topic will also emphasize on mechanisms behind the resistance of this process to anti-inflammatory medications and highlight the recent therapeutic approaches in treating or preventing airway remodeling in asthma.
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by variable degrees of airflow obstruction, leading to recurrent episodes of wheezing and dyspnea. The hallmark of asthma is infiltrating the airway with various inflammatory cells including mast cells, eosinophils, and CD4 Th2 cells. This inflammation is associated with bronchial edema and mucus hyper-production.
Airway remodeling is another major feature of asthma. It is defined as permanent structural changes in the airway walls which correlates with the severe forms of the disease. It is characterized by sup-epithelial fibrosis due to increased disposition of extracellular matrix components, epithelial desquamation, goblet cell hyperplasia, and increase in smooth muscle mass and vascular changes.
This Research Topic will focus on updates of the pathogenesis of asthma and the identification of novel pathways contributing to airway remodeling. The Research Topic will also emphasize on mechanisms behind the resistance of this process to anti-inflammatory medications and highlight the recent therapeutic approaches in treating or preventing airway remodeling in asthma.
