[Inflammation of the bronchial mucosa as the basis for airway hyperreactivity]

Abstract

The mechanisms that are involved in asthma pathogenesis have been the subject of intensive research in the last few years. Numerous studies have shown involvement of inflammatory cells and their mediators in the damage of the bronchi. Inflammation leads to morphological changes in the bronchial wall: damage of the epithelium, increased deposition of collagen beneath the epithelial basement membrane, oedema and infiltration of the mucosa with inflammatory cells, hyperplasia of the mucous glands and hypertrophy of the bronchial smooth muscles. The relationship between inflammation and bronchial hyperresponsiveness is complex and remains unclear. This review article will encompass the current understanding of inflammatory mechanisms in asthma and their association with morphological changes in the airways and the syndrome of bronchial hyperresponsiveness.