Effects Of Aquaporin-4 Knockout On Airway Response In Mice

Airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) is defined as an excessive airway narrowing in response to a variety of chemical and physical stimuli that have little or no effect on healthy subjects and is documented by leftward and upward shifts of the dose-response curve to constrictor agents. The leftward shift of dose-response curve is referred as airway hypersensitivity and the increased maximal response as airway hyperreactivity. AHR is the most common pathophysiological change in the respiratory system and a characteristic feature of both asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPDs). Thus, bronchial hyperresponsiveness is frequently used to aid in diagnosis and characterization of individuals with airway disease. An array of different pharmacological and physical stimuli is available to measure airway responsiveness, including methacholine, histamine, adenosine, non-isotonic aerosols, exercise challenge, et al.The etiology of AHR is still not fully understood, but it is generally accepted that both genetic and environmental factors determine the phenotypic expression of this complex disease. Genetic predisposition and environmental inducers may lead to airway inflammation, airway remodeling and/or neurohumoral changes and result in the development of AHR. Airway epithelium is in a key position to translate gene-environment interactions, which is suggested to communicate with smooth muscle cells, immune cells and neural cells.