Pediatr Allergy Respir Dis.  2006 Dec;16(4):267-273.

bFGF & FGFR Expression in Chronic Airway Remodeling of Asthma

• Yum HY

Abstract

A number of structural changes occur in the airway wall in asthma. The most characteristic is thickening of the subepithelial lamina reticularis which is observed in bronchial tissue even in patients with mild disease. This pathophysiological change which was the result of deposition of interstitial collagens by increased numbers of myofibroblasts is likely to be directed by growth factors having fibropoliferative and profibrotic effect. The acivation of the epithelial-mesenchymal unit involves reciprocal activities of growth factors belonging to the fibroblast growth (FGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), and transforming growth factor-beta families. Among them FGF is a member of family of heparin binding growth factors that affect the growth and differentiation of a large number of cell types. Especially basic FGF involved in morphogenesis, wound repair, inflammation, angiogenesis, and tumor growth and invasion, and require the glycosaminoglycan side chains of heparan sulphate, proteoglycans for high affinity binding to their specific receptors. Few studies suggested bFGF would be an important regulator of airway remodeling by means of paracrine control of bronchial myofibroblasts in response to cell damage and repair.

Keyword

Asthma; Airway remodeling; Fibroblast growth factor

MeSH Terms

Airway Remodeling*
Asthma*
Collagen
Epidermal Growth Factor
Fibroblast Growth Factors
Fibroblasts
Heparin
Humans
Inflammation
Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
Morphogenesis
Myofibroblasts
Proteoglycans
Wounds and Injuries
Collagen
Epidermal Growth Factor
Fibroblast Growth Factors
Heparin
Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
Proteoglycans