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Updated: Aug 10, 2026

In vitro Measurements of Tracheal Constriction Using Mice
Published on: June 25, 2012
Airway smooth muscle as a regulator of immune responses and bronchomotor tone
Aili L Lazaar1, Reynold A Panettieri
1Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Division, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, BRB II/III, 421 Curie Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6160, USA. Aili.L.Lazaar@gsk.com
Abstract:
The traditional view of airway smooth muscle (ASM) in asthma, as a purely contractile tissue, seems to be inadequate. Compelling evidence now suggests that ASM plays an important role in regulating bronchomotor tone, in perpetuating airway inflammation, and in remodeling of the airways. This article reviews three distinct functions of ASM cells: the process of excitation-contraction coupling, with a particular focus on the role of cytokines in modulating calcium responses; the processes of smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration; and the synthetic and immunomodulatory function of ASM cells. This article also discusses how altered synthetic function contributes to airway remodeling.
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