Structural changes to airway smooth muscle in cystic fibrosis
SR Hays, RE Ferrando, R Carter, HH Wong… - Thorax, 2005 - thorax.bmj.com
SR Hays, RE Ferrando, R Carter, HH Wong, PG Woodruff
Thorax, 2005•thorax.bmj.comBackground: Chronic airway obstruction is characteristic of cystic fibrosis (CF) but there are
few studies of airway smooth muscle remodelling in CF. Methods: Airway smooth muscle
content and mean airway smooth muscle cell size were measured by applying design-
based stereology to bronchoscopic biopsy specimens obtained from seven subjects with CF
and 15 healthy controls. Results: The smooth muscle content increased by 63% in subjects
with CF (mean (SD) 0.173 (0.08) v 0.106 (0.042) mm3 smooth muscle/mm3 submucosa …
few studies of airway smooth muscle remodelling in CF. Methods: Airway smooth muscle
content and mean airway smooth muscle cell size were measured by applying design-
based stereology to bronchoscopic biopsy specimens obtained from seven subjects with CF
and 15 healthy controls. Results: The smooth muscle content increased by 63% in subjects
with CF (mean (SD) 0.173 (0.08) v 0.106 (0.042) mm3 smooth muscle/mm3 submucosa …
Background: Chronic airway obstruction is characteristic of cystic fibrosis (CF) but there are few studies of airway smooth muscle remodelling in CF.
Methods: Airway smooth muscle content and mean airway smooth muscle cell size were measured by applying design-based stereology to bronchoscopic biopsy specimens obtained from seven subjects with CF and 15 healthy controls.
Results: The smooth muscle content increased by 63% in subjects with CF (mean (SD) 0.173 (0.08) v 0.106 (0.042) mm3 smooth muscle/mm3 submucosa, mean difference −0.067; 95% CI −0.12 to −0.013, p = 0.017) but there was no increase in mean cell size (2705 (351) v 2654 (757) μm3, mean difference −51; 95% CI −687 to 585, p = 0.87).
Conclusions: These findings indicate hyperplasia of airway smooth muscle cells without hypertrophy and suggest that accumulation of airway smooth muscle cells may contribute to airway narrowing and bronchial hyperresponsiveness in CF.
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