The biological responses of airway smooth muscle (ASM) are diverse, in part due to ASM
phenotype plasticity. ASM phenotype plasticity refers to the ability of ASM cells to change the
degree of a variety of functions, including contractility, proliferation, migration and secretion
of inflammatory mediators. This plasticity occurs due to intrinsic or acquired abnormalities in
ASM cells, and these abnormalities or predisposition of the ASM cell may alter the ASM
response and in some cases recapitulate disease hallmarks of asthma. These phenotypic …