Grant: Operating Grant

Asthma is caused by factors in the environment that act on the susceptible host, creating constriction of the airways or bronchospasm. The airways undergo changes after allergen exposure in sensitized subjects including growth of airway smooth muscle which is a likely explanation for the excessive responses to various stimuli that may subsequently cause airway narrowing. One of the mechanisms by which airway tissues grow seems to require the epidermal growth factor receptor. This receptor can be activated by the presence of a variety of substances that bind to it and trigger a series of signals to be initiated. The aim of this grant is to investigate the relationship between allergen exposure and the growth of various airway tissues, in particular smooth muscle, and the role that the epidermal growth factor receptor and various triggers of activation of this receptor may have in the process. Human tissues and model systems will be used to investigate the scientific questions being posed.