Functional Effects of WNT1-Inducible Signaling Pathway Protein-1 on Bronchial Smooth Muscle Cell Migration and Proliferation in OVA-Induced Airway Remodeling

Upregulation of WISP1 has been demonstrated in lung remodeling. Moreover, it has been recently found that some signaling components of WNT pathway can activate GSK3β signaling to mediate remodeling of airway smooth muscle (ASM) in asthma. Therefore, we hypothesized that WISP1, a signaling molecule downstream of the WNT signaling pathway, is involved in PI3K/GSK3β signaling to mediate ASM remodeling in asthma. Our results showed that WISP1 depletion partly suppressed OVA-induced ASM hypertrophy in vivo. In vitro, WISP1 could induce hBSMC hypertrophy and proliferation, accompanied by upregulation of levels of PI3K, p-Akt, p-GSK3β, and its own expression. TGF-β treatment could increase expression of PI3K, p-Akt, p-GSK3β, and WISP1. SH-5 treatment could partly suppress TGF-β-induced hypertrophy and proliferation of hBSMC, and depress expression of p-GSK3β and WISP1. In conclusion, WISP1 may be a potential inducer of ASM proliferation and hypertrophy in asthma. The pro-remodeling effect of WISP1 is likely due to be involved in PI3K-GSK3β-dependent noncanonical TGF-β signaling.     

ERK在慢性哮喘大鼠气道平滑肌细胞增殖中的作用

目的：观察细胞外信号调节蛋白激酶(ERK)在慢性哮喘大鼠气道平滑肌细胞的表达，以探讨ERK信号通路在气道平滑肌增殖中的作用。方法：病理图像分析慢性哮喘大鼠气道重塑，免疫组化法检测ERK和PCNA在肺内表达，激光共聚焦显微镜分析ERK1/2、磷酸化ERK1/2和PCNA在气道平滑肌的共表达，免疫印迹和原位杂交检测气道平滑肌中ERK和PCNA蛋白以及mRNA的表达。结果：慢性哮喘大鼠有气道平滑肌层增厚，出现结构重塑。ERK和PCNA在肺内表达增强，同时在气道平滑肌上有ERK和PCNA蛋白与mRNA表达增加。结论：ERK可能是介导慢性哮喘气道重建中平滑肌增殖的重要信号通路之一。     

MAPK regulation of gene expression in airway smooth muscle

Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) are important components of signaling modules activated by neurotransmitters, cytokines, and growth factors, as well as chemical and mechanical stressors. In the airway, these external signals produce acute responses that modify smooth muscle contraction and may also induce chronic responses that modify airway structure. Both acute and chronic events in airway remodeling result from altered expression of multiple genes encoding protein mediators of cell-cell signaling, extracellular matrix remodeling, cell cycle control and intracellular signaling pathways. This review will focus on inflammatory and growth factor mediators of cell-cell signaling regulated by the ERK and p38 MAPK pathways in airway smooth muscle (ASM). These signaling mediators affect ASM tissue mechanics, cell migration, and gene expression patterns in a paracrine and autocrine fashion, although the relative importance of each MAPK pathway varies with the stimulus. These events thereby contribute to normal airway function and participate in pathological changes in ASM that accompany symptoms of asthma.     

Apigenin inhibits TGF-β1-induced proliferation and migration of airway smooth muscle cells

It is well known that the proliferation and migration of ASM cells (ASMCs) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of airway remodeling in asthma. Previous studies reported that apigenin can inhibit airway remodeling in a mouse asthma model. However, its effects on the proliferation and migration of ASMCs in asthma remain unknown. Therefore, the aim of our present study was to investigate the effects of apigenin on ASMC proliferation and migration, and explore the possible molecular mechanism. We found that apigenin inhibited transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)-induced ASMC proliferation. The cell cycle was blocked at G1/S-interphase by apigenin. It also suppressed TGF-β1-induced ASMCs migration. Furthermore, apigenin inhibited TGF-β1-induced Smad 2 and Smad 3 phosphorylation in ASMCs. Taken together, these results suggested that apigenin inhibited the proliferation and migration of TGF-β1-stimulated ASMCs by inhibiting Smad signaling pathway. These data might provide useful information for treating asthma and show that apigenin has potential for attenuating airway remodeling.     

磷脂酰肌醇3激酶在支气管哮喘大鼠气道平滑肌细胞中的表达

 目的： 探讨磷脂酰肌醇3激酶(PI3K)在支气管哮喘大鼠气道平滑肌细胞（ASMC）的表达。方法: 根据随机化分配原则将16只Wistar大鼠随机均分成2组，即哮喘组和正常对照组；模型建立后分别从每只大鼠分离培养ASMC，流式细胞检测方法检测ASMC的生长分数，用免疫细胞化学荧光染色及Western blotting方法进行PI3K表达的检测，并利用图像分析系统进行半定量对比分析。结果: 流式细胞仪检测发现哮喘组ASMC的S+G2/M期细胞所占细胞总数的百分比 (27.90±3.44) %显著高于正常对照组(13.00±1.56)%,P<0.05；免疫细胞化学荧光染色及Western blotting方法检测发现哮喘组和正常对照组ASMC胞浆内均有PI3Kp85阳性表达，且哮喘组的表达明显高于正常对照组；大鼠ASMC中PI3K的表达与大鼠ASMC的生长分数呈显著正相关。 结论: PI3K表达的增加可能在哮喘ASMC增殖中起重要作用。     

Retinoic acid inhibits airway smooth muscle cell migration

Airway remodeling in chronic asthma is characterized by increased smooth muscle mass that is associated with the reduction of the bronchial lumen as well as airway hyperresponsiveness. The development of agents that inhibit smooth muscle growth is therefore of interest for therapy to prevent asthma-associated airway remodeling. All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) suppresses growth of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) from the systemic and pulmonary circulation. The present study investigated the effects of ATRA on human bronchial (airway) SMCs. Human bronchial SMCs were found to express mRNAs for retinoic acid receptor (RAR)-alpha, -beta, -gamma, and retinoid X receptor (RXR)-alpha, -beta, but not RXR-gamma. Although ATRA was not effective in inhibiting proliferation or in inducing apoptosis in airway SMCs, we found that ATRA (0.2-2 microM) inhibited the SMC migration in response to platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), as determined in a modified Boyden chamber assay. Both RAR and RXR agonists also blocked PDGF-induced airway SMC migration. ATRA also inhibited PDGF-induced actin reorganization associated with migration. PDGF-induced actin reorganization and migration were blocked by inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K) and Akt. However, migration was blocked by inhibitors of the MEK/ERK pathway, with no effect on cytoskeletal reorganization. ATRA suppressed PDGF-induced Akt activation without influencing ERK activation. RAR was found to form protein-protein interactions with the p85 PI3K subunit. These results suggest that retinoic acid inhibits airway SMC migration through the modulation of the PI3K/Akt pathway.     

Phophatidylinositol-3 kinase/mammalian target of rapamycin/p70S6K regulates contractile protein accumulation in airway myocyte differentiation

Increased airway smooth muscle in airway remodeling results from myocyte proliferation and hypertrophy. Skeletal and vascular smooth muscle hypertrophy is induced by phosphatidylinositide-3 kinase (PI(3) kinase) via mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and p70S6 kinase (p70S6K). We tested the hypothesis that this pathway regulates contractile protein accumulation in cultured canine airway myocytes acquiring an elongated contractile phenotype in serum-free culture. In vitro assays revealed a sustained activation of PI(3) kinase and p70S6K during serum deprivation up to 12 d, with concomitant accumulation of SM22 and smooth muscle myosin heavy chain (smMHC) proteins. Immunocytochemistry revealed that activation of PI3K/mTOR/p70S6K occurred almost exclusively in myocytes that acquire the contractile phenotype. Inhibition of PI(3) kinase or mTOR with LY294002 or rapamycin blocked p70S6K activation, prevented formation of large elongated contractile phenotype myocytes, and blocked accumulation of SM22 and smMHC. Inhibition of MEK had no effect. Steady-state mRNA abundance for SM22 and smMHC was unaffected by blocking p70S6K activation. These studies provide primary evidence that PI(3) kinase and mTOR activate p70S6K in airway myocytes leading to the accumulation of contractile apparatus proteins, differentiation, and growth of large, elongated contractile phenotype airway smooth muscle cells.     

Role of licochalcone A in VEGF-induced proliferation of human airway smooth muscle cells: implications for asthma

Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease characterized by reversible airway obstruction with persistent airway inflammation and airway remodeling, which is associated with increased airway smooth muscle (ASM) mass. Licochalcone A is the predominant characteristic chalcone in licorice root. We found that licochalcone A inhibited vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced ASM cell proliferation and induced cell cycle arrest. Additionally, VEGF-induced ASM cell proliferation was suppressed via inhibition of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) activity, but not that of Akt. Furthermore, licochalcone A treatment inhibited VEGF-induced activation of VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2) and ERK and blocked the downregulation of caveolin-1 in a concentration-dependent manner. Collectively, our findings suggested that licochalcone A inhibited VEGF-induced ASM cell proliferation by suppressing VEGFR2 and ERK1/2 activation and downregulating caveolin-1. Further studies of these mechanisms are needed to facilitate the development of treatments for smooth muscle hyperplasia-associated diseases of the airway, such as asthma.     

Airway smooth muscle cells are insensitive to the anti-proliferative effects of corticosteroids: The novel role of insulin growth factor binding Protein-1 in asthma

Airway remodeling in asthma manifests, in part, as enhanced airway smooth muscle (ASM) mass, due to myocyte proliferation. While the anti-proliferative effects of glucocorticoid (GC) were investigated in normal ASM cells (NASMC), little is known about such effects in ASM cells derived from asthma subjects (AASMC). We posit that GC differentially modulates mitogen-induced proliferation of AASMC and NASMC. Cells were cultured, starved, then treated with Epidermal growth factor (EGF) (10 ng/ml) and Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) (10 ng/ml) for 24 h and/or fluticasone propionate (FP) (100 nM) added 2 h before. Cell counts and flow cytometry analyses showed that FP failed to decrease the cell number of and DNA synthesis in AASMC irrespective of mitogens used. We also examine the ability of Insulin Growth Factor Binding Protein-1 (IGFBP-1), a steroid-inducible gene that deters cell growth in other cell types, to inhibit proliferation of AASMC where FP failed. We found that FP increased IGFBP1 mRNA and protein levels. Interestingly, the addition of IGFBP1 (1 μg/ml) to FP completely inhibited the proliferation of AASMC irrespective to the mitogens used. Further investigation of different signaling molecules involved in ASM growth and GC receptor functions (Protein kinase B (PKB/AKT), Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK)) showed that IGFBP-1 selectively decreased mitogen-induced p38 phosphorylation in AASMC. Collectively, our results show the insensitivity of AASMC to the anti-proliferative effects of GC, and demonstrate the ability of IGFBP1 to modulate AASMC growth representing, hence, a promising strategy to control ASM growth in subjects with GC insensitive asthma.     

磷脂酰肌醇3激酶/蛋白激酶B/雷帕霉素靶蛋白信号通路在肺部疾病中的研究进展

磷脂酰肌醇3激酶/蛋白激酶B/雷帕霉素靶蛋白(phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin,PI3K/Akt/mTOR)是细胞内重要信号通路,在细胞生长、增殖、分化和蛋白合成等过程中起重要作用.肺癌、哮喘、肺动脉高压、肺纤维化、慢性阻塞性肺疾病(chronic pulmonary obstructive disease,CORD)等疾病是呼吸系统常见疾病,其病理机制涉及细胞增殖及凋亡等,与PI3K/Akt/mTOR信号通路关系密切.     

Airway smooth muscle: a modulator of airway remodeling in asthma

Asthma is a disease characterized, in part, by airway hyperresponsiveness and inflammation. Although asthma typically induces reversible airway obstruction, in some patients with asthma, airflow obstruction can become irreversible. Such obstruction might be a consequence of persistent structural changes in the airway wall caused by the frequent stimulation of airway smooth muscle (ASM) by contractile agonists, inflammatory mediators, and growth factors. Traditional concepts concerning airway inflammation have focused on trafficking leukocytes and on the effects of inflammatory mediators, cytokines, and chemokines secreted by these cells. Recent studies suggest that ASM cells might modulate airway remodeling by secreting cytokines, growth factors, or matrix proteins and by expressing cell adhesion molecules and other potential costimulatory molecules. These ASM cell functions might directly or indirectly modulate submucosal airway inflammation and promote airway remodeling.     

Eosinophils Induce Airway Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation

Asthma is characterized by eosinophilic airway inflammation and remodeling of the airway wall. Features of airway remodeling include increased airway smooth muscle (ASM) mass. However, little is known about the interaction between inflammatory eosinophils and ASM cells. In this study, we investigated the effect of eosinophils on ASM cell proliferation. Eosinophils were isolated from peripheral blood of mild asthmatics and non-asthmatic subjects and co-cultured with human primary ASM cells. ASM proliferation was estimated using Ki-67 expression assay. The expression of extracellular matrix (ECM) mRNA in ASM cells was measured using quantitative real-time PCR. The role of eosinophil derived Cysteinyl Leukotrienes (CysLTs) in enhancing ASM proliferation was estimated by measuring the release of leukotrienes from eosinophils upon their direct contact with ASM cells using ELISA. This role was confirmed either by blocking eosinophil-ASM contact or co-culturing them in the presence of leukotrienes antagonist. ASM cells co-cultured with eosinophils, isolated from asthmatics, but not non-asthmatics, had a significantly higher rate of proliferation compared to controls. This increase in ASM proliferation was independent of their release of ECM proteins but dependent upon eosinophils release of CysLTs. Eosinophil-ASM cell to cell contact was required for CysLTs release. Preventing eosinophil contact with ASM cells using anti-adhesion molecules antibodies, or blocking the activity of eosinophil derived CysLTs using montelukast inhibited ASM proliferation. Our results indicated that eosinophils contribute to airway remodeling during asthma by enhancing ASM cell proliferation and hence increasing ASM mass. Direct contact of eosinophils with ASM cells triggers their release of CysLTs which enhance ASM proliferation. Eosinophils, and their binding to ASM cells, constitute a potential therapeutic target to interfere with the series of biological events leading to airway remodeling and Asthma.     

PI3K-AKT-mTOR信号通路在细胞分化中的作用

磷脂酰肌醇3-激酶(PI3K)及其下游分子AKT、TSC1/2和mTOR所组成的信号通路参与增殖、凋亡等多种细胞功能的调节。近年来发现,这一信号通路与细胞的分化密切相关。细胞分化的异常可以引起多种疾病,肿瘤就是一种分化异常的疾病,而PI3K-AKT-mTOR信号传递通路调节失常在肿瘤中最为常见,因此本文旨在综述PI3K-AKT-mTOR信号通路在细胞分化和肿瘤中的作用。     

Wnt/β-catenin信号通路调控哮喘气道重塑的机制研究

目的:探讨Wnt/β-catenin信号通路调控哮喘气道平滑肌细胞(ASMC)的功能和参与哮喘气道重塑的机制。方法:建立大鼠哮喘模型,提取大鼠ASMC。Western blot法检测哮喘组和正常组大鼠ASMC中β-连环蛋白(β-catenin)、糖原合成酶激酶-3β(GSK-3β)、原癌基因c-Myc和细胞周期蛋白D1(cyclin D1)的蛋白表达。抑制哮喘组和对照组ASMC中β-catenin和转录辅助因子p300/CBP间的相互作用后,采用CCK-8法和流式细胞术检测ASMC的细胞活力和周期变化。抑制P38丝裂原活化蛋白激酶(MAPK)活性后,采用Western blot法检测c-Myc和cyclin D1的蛋白表达变化。结果:Western blot法显示哮喘组ASMC中β-catenin、c-Myc和cyclin D1的蛋白表达水平均明显高于对照组(P0.05),同时GSK-3β的蛋白表达水平则低于对照组(P0.05)。抑制β-catenin和p300/CBP间相互作用后,哮喘组ASMC的细胞活力下降幅度和细胞周期改变程度均较对照组更为明显(P0.05)。抑制P38 MAPK活性后,哮喘模型大鼠及对照大鼠ASMC中Wnt/β-catenin信号通路的靶蛋白c-Myc和cyclin D1的表达均下调,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:Wnt/β-catenin信号通路可能通过上调c-Myc和cyclin D1的表达、与P38 MAPK信号通路相互作用以及调控ASMC的生长和分化等途径,影响ASMC的功能,参与哮喘气道重塑。     

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is associated with enhanced bronchial expression of FGF-1, FGF-2, and FGFR-1

An important feature of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is airway remodelling, the molecular mechanisms of which are poorly understood. In this study, the role of fibroblast growth factors (FGF-1 and FGF-2) and their receptor, FGFR-1, was assessed in bronchial airway wall remodelling in patients with COPD (FEV1 < 75%; n = 15) and without COPD (FEV1 > 85%; n = 16). FGF-1 and FGFR-1 were immunolocalized in bronchial epithelium, airway smooth muscle (ASM), submucosal glandular epithelium, and vascular smooth muscle. Quantitative digital image analysis revealed increased cytoplasmic expression of FGF-2 in bronchial epithelium (0.35 +/- 0.03 vs 0.20 +/- 0.04, p < 0.008) and nuclear localization in ASM (p < 0.0001) in COPD patients compared with controls. Elevated levels of FGFR-1 in ASM (p < 0.005) and of FGF-1 (p < 0.04) and FGFR-1 (p < 0.001) in bronchial epithelium were observed. In cultured human ASM cells, FGF-1 and/or FGF-2 (10 ng/ml) induced cellular proliferation, as shown by [3H]thymidine incorporation and by cell number counts. Steady-state mRNA levels of FGFR-1 were elevated in human ASM cells treated with either FGF-1 or FGF-2. The increased bronchial expression of fibroblast growth factors and their receptor in patients with COPD, and the mitogenic response of human ASM cells to FGFs in vitro suggest a potential role for the FGF/FGFR-1 system in the remodelling of bronchial airways in COPD.     

The inhibition of insulin-stimulated proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells by rosiglitazone is mediated by the Akt-mTOR-P70S6K pathway

PURPOSE: Thiazolidinediones (TZDs) are known to inhibit the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) by increasing the activity of p27Kip1 and retinoblastoma protein (RB). However, the upstream signaling mechanisms associated with this pathway have not been elucidated. The Akt-mTOR-P70S6 kinase pathway is the central regulator of cell growth and proliferation, and increases cell proliferation by inhibiting the activities of p27Kip1 and retinoblastoma protein (RB). Therefore, we hypothesized in this study that rosiglitazone inhibits VSMC proliferation through the inhibition of the Akt-TOR-P70S6K signaling pathway. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rat aortic smooth muscle cells (RAoSMCs) were treated with 10microM of rosiglitazone 24 hours before the addition of insulin as a mitogenic stimulus. Western blot analysis was performed to determine the inhibitory effect of rosiglitazone treatment on the Akt-mTOR-P70S6K signaling pathway. Carotid balloon injury was also performed in Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) diabetic rats that were pretreated with 3 mg/kg of rosiglitazone. RESULTS: Western blot analysis demonstrated significant inhibition of activation of p-Akt, p-m-TOR, and p-p70S6K in cells treated with rosiglitazone. The inhibition of the activation of the p-mTOR-p-p70S6K pathway seemed to be mediated by both the upstream PI3K pathway and MEK-ERK complex. CONCLUSION: The inhibitory effect of rosiglitazone on RAoSMC proliferation in vitro and in vivo is mediated by the inhibition of the Akt-mTOR-P70S6K pathway.     

Carbon monoxide inhibits human airway smooth muscle cell proliferation via mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway

The gaseous molecule carbon monoxide (CO) is elevated in the breath of individuals with asthma. The physiologic function of CO in asthma is poorly understood. Here we demonstrate that CO (250 ppm) markedly inhibits human airway smooth muscle cell (HASMC) proliferation, arresting cells at the G0/G1 phase. This CO-induced cell growth arrest of HASMC was associated with upregulation of p21 and downregulation of cyclin D1 expression. It is generally believed that the signaling pathway by which CO affects biologic processes is primarily mediated via the guanylyl cyclase/3',5'-Guanylate cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) pathway. To examine whether guanylyl cyclase/cGMP was involved in CO-induced growth arrest of HASMC, Rp-8-Br-cGMP, a selective inhibitor of cGMP-dependent protein kinase and ODQ, a selective inhibitor of soluble guanylate cyclase, were administered to HASMC in the presence of CO. Interestingly, CO-induced cell growth arrest was not reversed by these inhibitors. We next examined whether the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/ERK2 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway may regulate the antiproliferative effect of CO. We first showed time-dependent activation of the various MAPKs in HASMC in response to serum, including phosphorylated ERK1/ERK2, p38, and JNK and then demonstrated that CO exerted negligible effect on activated p38 and JNK; however, ERK activation was significantly attenuated in the presence of CO. These data suggest that CO can inhibit HASMC proliferation via the ERK1/ERK2 MAPK pathway, independent of a guanylyl cyclase/cGMP independent pathway. CO may act as an important mediator of remodeling of human airways in asthma via its ability to regulate cell growth of airway smooth muscle cells.     

Mesenchymal stem cells suppress lung inflammation and airway remodeling in chronic asthma rat model via PI3K/Akt signaling pathway

Background: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) came out to attract wide attention and had become one of the hotspots of most diseases’ research in decades. But at present, the mechanisms of how MSCs work on chronic asthma remain undefined. Our study aims at verifying whether MSCs play a role in preventing inflammation and airway remodeling via PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in the chronic asthma rats model. Methods: First, an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma model was built. MSCs were administered to ovalbumin-induced asthma rats. The total cells in a bronchial alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and inflammatory mediators in BALF and serum were measured. Histological examination of lung tissue was performed to estimate the pathological changes. Additionally, the expression of phosphorylated-Akt (p-Akt) in all groups was measured by western blot and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Results: Compared to normal control group, the degree of airway inflammation and airway remodeling was significantly increased in asthma group. On the contrary, they were obviously inhibited in MSCs transplantation group. Moreover, the expression of p-Akt was increased in lung tissues of asthmatic rats, and suppressed by MSCs transplantation. Conclusion: Our results demonstrated that MSCs transplantation could suppress lung inflammation and airway remodeling via PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in rat asthma model.     

MiR-23b controls TGF-β1 induced airway smooth muscle cell proliferation via TGFβR2/p-Smad3 signals

BackgroundAbnormal proliferation of ASM (airway smooth muscle) directly contributes to the airway remodeling during development of lung diseases such as asthma. Here we report that a specific microRNA (miR-23b) controls ASMCs proliferation through directly inhibiting TGFβR2/p-Smad3 pathway.MethodsThe expression of miR-23b in ASMCs was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The effects of miR-23b on cell proliferation and apoptosis of ASMCs were assessed by transient transfection of miR-23b mimics and inhibitor. The target gene of miR-23b and the downstream pathway were further investigated.ResultsOverexpression of miR-23b significantly inhibited TGF-β1-induced ASMCs proliferation and promoted apoptosis. RT-PCR and Western blotting analysis showed miR-23b negatively regulates the expression of TGFβR2 and p-Smad3 in ASMCs. Subsequent analyses demonstrated that TGFβR2 was a direct and functional target of miR-23b, which was validated by the dual luciferase reporter assay.ConclusionsMiR-23b may function as an inhibitor of airway smooth muscle cells proliferation through inactivation of TGFβR2/p-Smad3 pathway.     

Extracellular matrix proteins modulate asthmatic airway smooth muscle cell proliferation via an autocrine mechanism

BACKGROUND: Airway remodeling is a key feature of persistent asthma and includes alterations in the extracellular matrix protein profile around the airway smooth muscle (ASM) and hyperplasia of the ASM. We have previously shown that nonasthmatic ASM cells in culture produce a range of extracellular matrix protein proteins and that asthmatic ASM cells proliferate faster than cells from nonasthmatic patients. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we compared the profile of extracellular matrix proteins produced by nonasthmatic and asthmatic ASM cells. We also examined the influence of these extracellular matrix protein proteins and conditioned medium derived from nonasthmatic or asthmatic ASM cells on the proliferation of nonasthmatic and asthmatic ASM cells. METHODS: Extracellular matrix proteins were measured by ELISA; proliferation of ASM cells was measured by tritiated thymidine incorporation. RESULTS: Production of perlecan and collagen I by the cells from asthmatic patients were significantly increased. In contrast, laminin alpha1 and collagen IV were decreased. Chondroitin sulfate was detectable only in the cells from nonasthmatic patients. Compared with nonasthmatic extracellular matrix proteins, proteins from asthmatic cells enhanced ASM cell proliferation. Conditioned medium from asthmatic ASM cells did not induce greater proliferation compared with conditioned medium from nonasthmatic cells. CONCLUSIONS: The data show that the profile of extracellular matrix protein components is altered in asthmatic cells and that this altered profile and not soluble mediators secreted from the ASM cells has the potential to influence the proliferation of these cells. These changes are likely to contribute to the airway wall remodeling that occurs in asthma.