The role of bronchial epithelial cells in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma

Bronchial asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways in which many cells play a key role,in particular eosinophils,mast cells,neutrophils,T-lymphocytes and epithelial cells.Epithelial damage is a characteristic feature of bronchial asthma.In asthma,there may be a primary defence in the epithelium such that it responds to various inhaled stimuli from external environment,which leads to disruption of the normal cells in epithelium structure and function are fundamental to the origin of asthma.The bronchial epithelial cell is not only a passive barrier,but also can produce a large amount of mediators that may play an important role in the infammatory responses that occur in the lung of asthma.The Function of several important mediators have been identified,which can take part in the cross talk between the bronchial epithelial cells and other kinds of cells to drive inflammatory response.It is suggested that Epithelial-induced cytokines maybe play an important role in the airway inflammation of asthma.