HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Permissions Request Permissions Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Web of Science (10) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Siddiqui, S. Articles by Brightling, C. E. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Siddiqui, S. Articles by Brightling, C. E.

Inflammatory cell microlocalisation and airway dysfunction: cause and effect?

Institute for Lung Health, Dept of Infection, Inflammation and Immunity, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.

CORRESPONDENCE: C. E. Brightling, Dept of Respiratory Medicine, University Hospitals of Leicester, Groby Road, Leicester, LE3 9QP, UK. Fax: 44 1162502787. E-mail: ceb17{at}le.ac.uk

Keywords: Asthma remodelling, cellular interactions, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease remodelling

Received: December 12, 2006
Accepted July 30, 2007

Airway inflammation is a critical feature of the airway diseases asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). There is emerging evidence that structural cells play a key role in the development and perpetuation of the inflammatory response and are pivotal in the development of the changes in the airway structures that lead to airway remodelling.

To date, little attention has been given to the localisation of inflammatory cells to airway structures or the potential interactions between these intimately located cells. However, it is likely that interactions between inflammatory and structural cells in the airway contribute enormously to the pathophysiology of asthma and COPD.

Indeed, recent evidence suggests that mast cells localised to the airway smooth muscle bundle may be important in the development of airway hyperresponsiveness in asthma.

In the present article, the authors aim to summarise: 1) the current understanding of which inflammatory cells locate to airway structures; 2) the proposed mechanisms that may be involved in mediating this microlocalisation; 3) the possible consequences of interactions between inflammatory and structural cells; and 4) the pressing need to investigate whether modulating these interactions is beneficial in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C K Andersson, M Mori, L Bjermer, C-G Lofdahl, and J S Erjefalt Novel site-specific mast cell subpopulations in the human lung Thorax, April 1, 2009; 64(4): 297 - 305. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Woodman, S. Siddiqui, G. Cruse, A. Sutcliffe, R. Saunders, D. Kaur, P. Bradding, and C. Brightling Mast Cells Promote Airway Smooth Muscle Cell Differentiation via Autocrine Up-Regulation of TGF-{beta}1 J. Immunol., October 1, 2008; 181(7): 5001 - 5007. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]