Grant: Operating Grant

Asthma is a bronchial disease characterized by inflammation and changes in the structure of the bronchi. These changes are termed airway remodeling. Bronchial cells (epithelial cells) are considered as a key player in coordinating these airway changes. The function of these cells can be modulated trough different mechanisms. In asthma repeated damage to epithelial cells perturbs the structure of the bronchi Our group has developed a unique expertise to isolate bronchial cells (epithelial cells and fibroblasts) from very well characterized asthmatic and healthy patients. These cells put us in valuable position to study communication between these cells. Moreover we developed an attractive engineered bronchial mucosa that will allow evaluating this communication in a way that imitates in vivo situation. Our studies and those of others have shown that structure and function of epithelial cells and fibroblasts are changed in asthma. These changes may have an important impact on the structure of the bronchi. The goal of this renewal proposal is to evaluate the impact of these changes and develop new therapeutic approaches that will specifically target this aspect of asthma pathogenesis.