Airway Epithelial Heterogeneity and Mucus Plugging in Asthmatic Bronchioles.

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

Bronchiolar dysfunction is associated with asthma exacerbations and poor symptom control. However, the molecular pathophysiology of asthmatic bronchiolar disease is poorly defined.

Objectives

Test the hypothesis that asthmatic bronchioles exhibit disturbances in epithelial biology that produce MUC5AC-dominated mucus plugs.

Methods

Peripheral lung tissues from severe asthmatics, fatal asthmatics (FA), and controls were evaluated with histology, RNA in situ hybridization, and immunohistochemistry. Isolated bronchiolar and bronchial basal cell responses to IL13 were compared in culture. Spatial transcriptomics and multiplex immunophenotyping were performed on excised tissue sections.

Measurements and main results

In excised tissues, severe and FA

SUBMITTER: Schworer SA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12668797 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature