Inhaled corticosteroids decrease subepithelial collagen deposition by modulation of the balance between matrix metalloproteinase-9 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 expression in asthma.

TL;DR: The current understanding of MMP-9 in human asthma, IPF, and COPD, and in animal models of these conditions is addressed.

TL;DR: It is proposed that impaired epithelial repair cooperates with the TH2 environment to shift the set point for communication within the trophic unit and leads to myofibroblast activation, excessive matrix deposition, and production of mediators that propagate and amplify the remodeling responses throughout the airway wall.

Abstract: Symptoms of atopic asthma often disappear at puberty. However, asthmatic subjects in clinical remission will frequently have a relapse later in life. The aim of this study was to investigate whether subjects in clinical remission of atopic asthma have persistent airway inflammation and/or airway remodeling. Bronchial biopsies were obtained from subjects in clinical remission, asthmatic subjects, and healthy control subjects. The presence and/or activation state of eosinophils, mast cells, macrophages, T lymphocytes, interleukin (IL)-5, eotaxin, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were analyzed. Results were compared with less invasive indicators of airway inflammation. Also aspects of airway remodeling were determined. Eosinophils, T cells, mast cells, and IL-5 were significantly elevated in the airway mucosa of subjects in remission compared with control subjects. Also, blood eosinophil cell counts were significantly higher in subjects in clinical remission. Blood eosinophil cell counts, exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) levels, and bronchial response to adenosine-5'-monophosphate correlated significantly with the quantity of tissue eosinophils. Significant airway remodeling was found in subjects in clinical remission. Our study has shown ongoing airway inflammation and airway remodeling in adolescents in clinical remission of atopic asthma. Subclinical airway inflammation may well determine the risk of an asthma relapse later in life.

TL;DR: This review will address a few major aspects: what are reliable quantitative approaches to assess airway remodeling, and are there any indications supporting the notion that airways remodeling can occur as a primary event, i.e., before any inflammatory process was initiated?

TL;DR: Latency is overcome by physical, chemical, and enzymatic treatments that separate the cysteine residue from the zinc Expression of the metalloproteinases is switched on by a variety of agents acting through regulatory elements of the gene, particularly the AP‐1 binding site.

TL;DR: The APAAP technique was found particularly suitable for labeling cell smears and for detecting low numbers of antigen-bearing cells in a specimen and could be used in conjunction with immunoperoxidase methods for double immunoenzymatic staining.

TL;DR: Patients with asthma can expect to control their symptoms, prevent most acute asthma exacerbations, maintain the activity levels they desire, and attain near normal lung function with use of guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of asthma.

TL;DR: Double immunofluorescent studies carried out with anti-alpha sm-1 and anti- desmin antibodies in several organs revealed a heterogeneity of stromal cells.