Table 1. Contribution by distinct cell types to the overall pathology of airway remodeling in obstructive lung diseases.
| Lung cell type | Contribution to the pathophysiology of airway remodeling |
|---|---|
| Epithelial cells | Epithelial shedding |
| Mucus secretion | |
| Subepithelial fibrosis | |
| Goblet cell hyperplasia | |
| Stimulating airway smooth muscle (ASM) proliferation through release
of growth factors | |
| Recruitment of pro-inflammatory cells | |
| Promoting extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition | |
| Promoting angiogenesis | |
| ASM cells | Increased ASM mass |
| ASM migration and invasion of the epithelium | |
| Adoption of synthetic phenotype (for example, secretion of transforming
growth factor-beta, chemokines, and ECM components) | |
| Interaction with immune cells through cell adhesion molecules | |
| Fibroblasts | Differentiation into myofibroblasts and secretion of ECM components |
| Accumulation in subepithelial regions |