Airway Remodeling: Its Role in the Pathogenesis of Asthma and Ways of Prevention
Keywords:
bronchial asthma, airway remodeling, basement membrane thickening, smooth muscle hypertrophy, angiogenesis, TGF-β1, epithelial–mesenchymal transition, anti-remodeling therapy, biologic agentsAbstract
This article analyzes airway remodeling in bronchial asthma — structural changes in the epithelium, basement membrane, smooth muscles, blood vessels, and extracellular matrix. The main mechanisms of remodeling, including chronic inflammation, growth factor dysregulation, and metalloproteinase activity, are examined in detail along with their clinical significance. The role of remodeling in driving irreversible airway obstruction and bronchial hyperreactivity is discussed comprehensively. Modern strategies for preventing airway remodeling are reviewed, encompassing early-stage inhaled corticosteroid therapy, targeted biologic agents, and emerging anti-fibrotic approaches. The article synthesizes evidence from recent clinical trials and guidelines, including GINA 2024 recommendations, to present a clinically applicable framework for managing airway remodeling in asthma patients.
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