J Bousquet, JY Lacoste, P Chanez, P Vic, P Godard and FB Michel
Clinique des Maladies Respiratoires, Hopital Arnaud de Villeneuve, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Montpellier, France.

Elastic fibers required to maintain bronchial patency during ventilation may be damaged in asthma as a result of repair following inflammation or stretching during exacerbations. Fifteen normal subjects and 40 asthmatics of variable severity were studied. Bronchial biopsies were obtained from a subsegmental bronchus using a flexible bronchoscope. The elastic fibers were examined using orceine-eosine sustaining and/or immunohistochemistry with two monoclonal antibodies against elastin or transmission electron microscopy (six asthmatics and four control subjects). Orceine-eosine staining revealed that most normal subjects had normal fibers throughout the submucosa whereas of the 21 asthmatics analyzed only three had a normal superficial elastin network. In five patients, elastin had virtually disappeared. In the remaining patients, fibers appeared fragmented. The deeper layer of elastic fibers was abnormal in 17 asthmatics, fibers being patchy, tangled, and thickened. The fragmentation of the superficial network of elastic fibers shown in asthmatics was confirmed by immunohistochemistry. Electron microscopy studies suggested that the elastinolytic process and fragmentation of elastic fibers occurred in asthmatics. Elastinolysis occurs in the airways of asthmatics possibly as a result of repair elicited by chronic inflammation. Mechanical stretch induced by breathing and edema may lead to the fragmentation of fibers in asthmatic airways.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. L. James and S. Wenzel Clinical relevance of airway remodelling in airway diseases Eur. Respir. J., July 1, 2007; 30(1): 134 - 155. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Thiberville, S. Moreno-Swirc, T. Vercauteren, E. Peltier, C. Cave, and G. Bourg Heckly In Vivo Imaging of the Bronchial Wall Microstructure Using Fibered Confocal Fluorescence Microscopy Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., January 1, 2007; 175(1): 22 - 31. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. L. Sorkness, K. M. Herricks, R. J. Szakaly, R. F. Lemanske Jr, and L. A. Rosenthal Altered allergen-induced eosinophil trafficking and physiological dysfunction in airways with preexisting virus-induced injury Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol, January 1, 2007; 292(1): L85 - L91. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Boxall, S. T. Holgate, and D. E. Davies The contribution of transforming growth factor-{beta} and epidermal growth factor signalling to airway remodelling in chronic asthma Eur. Respir. J., January 1, 2006; 27(1): 208 - 229. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Wenzel Severe Asthma in Adults Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., July 15, 2005; 172(2): 149 - 160. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. G. Xisto, L. L. Farias, H. C. Ferreira, M. R. Picanco, D. Amitrano, J. R. Lapa e Silva, E. M. Negri, T. Mauad, D. Carnielli, L. F. F. Silva, et al. Lung Parenchyma Remodeling in a Murine Model of Chronic Allergic Inflammation Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., April 15, 2005; 171(8): 829 - 837. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				U. Oltmanns, M. B. Sukkar, S. Xie, M. John, and K. F. Chung Induction of Human Airway Smooth Muscle Apoptosis by Neutrophils and Neutrophil Elastase Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol. Biol., April 1, 2005; 32(4): 334 - 341. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A.M. Vignola, F. Paganin, L. Capieu, N. Scichilone, M. Bellia, L. Maakel, V. Bellia, P. Godard, J. Bousquet, and P. Chanez Airway remodelling assessed by sputum and high-resolution computed tomography in asthma and COPD Eur. Respir. J., December 1, 2004; 24(6): 910 - 917. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. L. Warner, N. W. Lukacs, S. D. Shapiro, N. Bhagarvathula, K. C. Nerusu, J. Varani, and K. J. Johnson Role of Metalloelastase in a Model of Allergic Lung Responses Induced by Cockroach Allergen Am. J. Pathol., December 1, 2004; 165(6): 1921 - 1930. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. Series, J. Chakir, and D. Boivin Influence of Weight and Sleep Apnea Status on Immunologic and Structural Features of the Uvula Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., November 15, 2004; 170(10): 1114 - 1119. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Elias The Relationship Between Asthma and COPD: Lessons From Transgenic Mice Chest, August 1, 2004; 126(2_suppl_1): 111S - 116S. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. I. Rennard and S. G. Farmer Exacerbations and Progression of Disease in Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Proceedings of the ATS, April 1, 2004; 1(2): 88 - 92. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. A. Pouladi, C. S. Robbins, F. K. Swirski, M. Cundall, A. N.J. McKenzie, M. Jordana, S. D. Shapiro, and M. R. Stampfli Interleukin-13-Dependent Expression of Matrix Metalloproteinase-12 Is Required for the Development of Airway Eosinophilia in Mice Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol. Biol., January 1, 2004; 30(1): 84 - 90. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A.M. Vignola, A. Bonanno, M. Profita, L. Riccobono, N. Scichilone, M. Spatafora, J. Bousquet, G. Bonsignore, and V. Bellia Effect of age and asthma duration upon elastase and {alpha}1-antitrypsin levels in adult asthmatics Eur. Respir. J., November 1, 2003; 22(5): 795 - 801. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. Jeffery, S. Holgate, and S. Wenzel Methods for the Assessment of Endobronchial Biopsies in Clinical Research: Application to Studies of Pathogenesis and the Effects of Treatment Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., September 15, 2003; 168(6): S1 - 17. [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. E. McParland, P. T. Macklem, and P. D. Pare Airway wall remodeling: friend or foe? J Appl Physiol, July 1, 2003; 95(1): 426 - 434. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. M. Vignola, F. Mirabella, G. Costanzo, R. Di Giorgi, M. Gjomarkaj, V. Bellia, and G. Bonsignore Airway Remodeling in Asthma Chest, March 1, 2003; 123(2007): 417S - 422S. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P A Beckett and P H Howarth Pharmacotherapy and airway remodelling in asthma? Thorax, February 1, 2003; 58(2): 163 - 174. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Palmans, R.A. Pauwels, and J.C. Kips Repeated allergen exposure changes collagen composition in airways of sensitised Brown Norway rats Eur. Respir. J., August 1, 2002; 20(2): 280 - 285. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. M. Freyer, S. R. Johnson, and I. P. Hall Effects of Growth Factors and Extracellular Matrix on Survival of Human Airway Smooth Muscle Cells Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol. Biol., November 1, 2001; 25(5): 569 - 576. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Van Den BERGE, H. A. M. KERSTJENS, R. J. MEIJER, D. M. DE REUS, G. H. KOETER, H. F. KAUFFMAN, and D. S. POSTMA Corticosteroid-induced Improvement in the PC20 of Adenosine Monophosphate Is More Closely Associated with Reduction in Airway Inflammation than Improvement in the PC20 of Methacholine Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., October 1, 2001; 164(7): 1127 - 1132. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Wenzel Proceedings of the ATS Workshop on Refractory Asthma . Current Understanding, Recommendations, and Unanswered Questions Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., December 1, 2000; 162(6): 2341 - 2351. [Full Text]

				A. M Vignola, R. Gagliardo, D. Guerrera, G. Chiappara, P. Chanez, J. Bousquet, and G. Bonsignore New evidence of inflammation in asthma Thorax, October 1, 2000; 55(90002): 59S - 60. [Full Text]

				H. J. L. BRACKEL, O. F. PEDERSEN, P. G. H. MULDER, S. E. OVERBEEK, K. F. KERREBIJN, and J. M. BOGAARD Central Airways Behave More Stiffly during Forced Expiration in Patients with Asthma Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., September 1, 2000; 162(3): 896 - 904. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				J. BOUSQUET, P. K. JEFFERY, W. W. BUSSE, M. JOHNSON, and A. M. VIGNOLA Asthma . From Bronchoconstriction to Airways Inflammation and Remodeling Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., May 1, 2000; 161(5): 1720 - 1745. [Full Text]

				P. K. Jeffery Comparison of the Structural and Inflammatory Features of COPD and Asthma Giles F. Filley Lecture Chest, May 1, 2000; 117(5_suppl_1): 251S - 260S. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. MAUAD, A. C. G. XAVIER, P. H. N. SALDIVA, and M. DOLHNIKOFF Elastosis and Fragmentation of Fibers of the Elastic System in Fatal Asthma Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., September 1, 1999; 160(3): 968 - 975. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				W. BUSSE, J. ELIAS, D. SHEPPARD, and S. BANKS-SCHLEGEL Airway Remodeling and Repair Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., September 1, 1999; 160(3): 1035 - 1042. [Full Text]

				G. Mautino, C. Henriquet, D. Jaffuel, J. Bousquet, and F. Capony Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 Levels in Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid from Asthmatic Subjects Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., July 1, 1999; 160(1): 324 - 330. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				H. W. CHU, J. L. HALLIDAY, R. J. MARTIN, D. Y. M. LEUNG, S. J. SZEFLER, and S. E. WENZEL Collagen Deposition in Large Airways May Not Differentiate Severe Asthma from Milder Forms of the Disease Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., December 1, 1998; 158(6): 1936 - 1944. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. M. VIGNOLA, L. RICCOBONO, A. MIRABELLA, M. PROFITA, P. CHANEZ, V. BELLIA, G. MAUTINO, P. D'ACCARDI, J. BOUSQUET, and G. BONSIGNORE Sputum Metalloproteinase-9/Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 Ratio Correlates with Airflow Obstruction in Asthma and Chronic Bronchitis Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., December 1, 1998; 158(6): 1945 - 1950. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. DURIEU, S. PEYROL, D. GINDRE, G. BELLON, D. V. DURAND, and Y. PACHECO Subepithelial Fibrosis and Degradation of the Bronchial Extracellular Matrix in Cystic Fibrosis Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., August 1, 1998; 158(2): 580 - 588. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Mautino, N. Oliver, P. Chanez, J. Bousquet, and F. Capony Increased Release of Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 in Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid and by Alveolar Macrophages of Asthmatics Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol. Biol., November 1, 1997; 17(5): 583 - 591. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				A. M. VIGNOLA, A. BONANNO, A. MIRABELLA, L. RICCOBONO, F. MIRABELLA, M. PROFITA, V. BELLIA, J. BOUSQUET, and G. BONSIGNORE Increased Levels of Elastase and alpha 1-Antitrypsin in Sputum of Asthmatic Patients Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., February 1, 1997; 157(2): 505 - 511. [Abstract] [Full Text]