The outer wall of small airways is a major site of remodeling in fatal asthma
M Dolhnikoff, LFF da Silva, BB de Araujo… - Journal of Allergy and …, 2009 - Elsevier
BACKGROUND: Structural and inflammatory changes in asthma involve both the large and
small airways, with involvement of the distal lung being related to disease severity. We have
previously shown that changes in the extracellular matrix (ECM) composition of the distal
lung are associated with loss of alveolar attachments in patients with fatal asthma. However,
major ECM elements, such as collagen I and fibronectin and their regulators, have not been
addressed at the distal level. OBJECTIVE: We sought to evaluate ECM remodeling in the …
small airways, with involvement of the distal lung being related to disease severity. We have
previously shown that changes in the extracellular matrix (ECM) composition of the distal
lung are associated with loss of alveolar attachments in patients with fatal asthma. However,
major ECM elements, such as collagen I and fibronectin and their regulators, have not been
addressed at the distal level. OBJECTIVE: We sought to evaluate ECM remodeling in the …