Role of transforming growth factor-β in bronchial asthma airway smooth muscle remodeling

Bronchial asthma(asthma)is a chronic inflammatory disease.Persistent inflammation in airway tissues may lead to airway remodeling,not fully reversible airway obstruction and progressive loss of lung function.Airway smooth muscle proliferation(including hyperplasia and hypertrophy)is the most prominent feature of airway remodeling in asthma,and it also is one of most important factors related to asthma airway responsiveness and the severity of asthma.Transforming growth factor-beta(TGF-β)plays important roles in asthma airway remodeling.Multiple cellular responses including differentiation,apoptosis and proliferation can be induced by TGF-β.TGF-β can,induce airway smooth muscle hyperplasia,hypertrophy and migration.Reduction of TGF-β and inhibition of TGF-β activity would he beneficial for the development of therapeutic intervention in chronic asthma airway remodeling. Key words: Bronchial asthma; Airway remodeling; Transforming growth factor-β; Smooth muscleproliferation; Signal transduction pathway