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Airway Hyperresponsiveness: Inflammatory Mechanisms and Clinical Aspects

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Allergy Frontiers: Clinical Manifestations

Part of the book series: Allergy Frontiers ((ALLERGY,volume 3))

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Abstract

Airway hyperresponsiveness is the exaggerated response of the airway to direct and indirect stimuli and is a cardinal feature of asthma. The cause of airway hyperresponsiveness is uncertain and its relationship to airway inflammation is complex as eosinophilic inflammation can occur without airway hyperresponsivenes which in turn can be present in the absence of eosinophilic airway inflammation. Emerging evidence suggests that airway hyperresponsiveness is likely to be a consequence of intrinsic abnormalities in airway smooth muscle function together with changes in the airway wall geometry and interactions between the airway smooth muscle and mast cells localised within the airway smooth muscle bundle. Airway hyperresponsiveness improves with current treatment but often remains abnormal. The abolition of airway hyperresponsivenss therefore remains a goal for asthma therapy.

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Authors and Affiliations

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

    Salman Siddiqui, Fay Hollins & Christopher Brightling

  2. Department of Respiratory Medicine, University Hospitals of Leicester, Groby Road, Leicester, LE3 9QP, UK

    Christopher Brightling

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  1. Salman Siddiqui
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  1. Nippon Medical School, 1-1-5 Sendagi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan

    Ruby Pawankar

  2. Southampton General Hospital, University of Southampton, Tremona Road, Southampton, UK

    Stephen T. Holgate

  3. Childrens's Mercy Hospital and Clinic, UMKC School of Medicine, 2401 Gillham Road, Kansas City, MO, 64108, USA

    Lanny J. Rosenwasser

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Siddiqui, S., Hollins, F., Brightling, C. (2009). Airway Hyperresponsiveness: Inflammatory Mechanisms and Clinical Aspects. In: Pawankar, R., Holgate, S.T., Rosenwasser, L.J. (eds) Allergy Frontiers: Clinical Manifestations. Allergy Frontiers, vol 3. Springer, Tokyo. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-88317-3_13

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