Airway Smooth Muscle and Fixed Airway Obstruction: Strategies for Softening Muscle

Grant number: 1045372 | Funding period: 2013 - 2015

Completed

Abstract

In severe asthma the airways don't relax fully making breathing more difficult. The inability to relax is being addressed by exploring the behaviour of isolated muscle cells. These cells are able to compact collagen gels. The mechanisms used to compact the gel are different to those that cause rapid muscular contraction. We aim to identify the molecules responsible for the gel compaction as a first step to identifying new drugs to treat the fixed airway obstruction in severe asthma.

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