FIG. 11.

Increased Inflammatory cells in asthmatic airways. Immunohistochemistry of endobronchial biopsies obtained from asthmatic lungs show the presence of increased numbers of polymorphonuclear cells (A, B), eosinophils (C, D) and mast cells (E, F) infiltrating throughout the mucosa and submucosa. Other remodeling changes seen in the biopsies include thickened basement membrane and sloughing of the surface epithelium (seen in C), increased vascularity (identifiable in A), and hypertrophy of the smooth muscle cells and layer (seen in C and E).