Interaction of airway smooth muscle with cell adhesion molecules and chemokines

Airway smooth muscle(ASM) plays a central role in regulating bronchomotor tone in patients with bronchial asthma(asthma). New evidence, however, suggests that ASM may also secret certain cell adhesion molecules and chemokines. The interaction of ASM and these molecules may regulate response inte nsity in asthma. The cell adhesion molecules,especially intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and vascular celladhesion molecule-1, induce the adhesion between ASM and immunocytes. Chemokines initiate orientation movement of inflammatory cell to ASM. These reactions aggravate the inflammatory reaction. This review addresses the immunomodulatory function of ASM and highlights how such function may have therapeutic implications in the management of asthma. Key words: Asthma; Airway smooth muscle; Cell adhesion molecule; Chemokine