Abstract | BACKGROUND: OBJECTIVE: We sought to investigate the effect of BT on extracellular matrix composition and its association with clinical outcomes. METHODS: This is a substudy of the TASMA trial. Thirty patients with severe asthma were BT-treated, of whom 13 patients were treated for 6 months with standard therapy (control group) before BT. Demographic data, clinical data including pulmonary function, and bronchial biopsies were collected. Biopsies at BT-treated and nontreated locations were analyzed by histological and immunohistochemical staining. Associations between histology and clinical outcomes were explored. RESULTS: Six months after treatment, it was found that the reticular basement membrane thickness was reduced from 7.28 μm to 5.74 μm (21% relative reduction) and the percentage area of tissue positive for collagen increased from 26.3% to 29.8% (13% relative increase). Collagen structure analysis revealed a reduction in the curvature frequency of fibers. The percentage area positive for fibulin-1 and fibronectin increased by 2.5% and 5.9%, respectively (relative increase of 124% and 15%). No changes were found for elastin. The changes in collagen and fibulin-1 negatively associated with changes in FEV1 reversibility. CONCLUSIONS: Besides reduction of airway smooth muscle mass, BT has an impact on reticular basement membrane thickness and the extracellular matrix arrangement characterized by an increase in tissue area occupied by collagen with a less dense fiber organization. Both collagen and fibulin-1 are negatively associated with the change in FEV1 reversibility.
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Authors | Pieta C Wijsman, Annika W M Goorsenberg, Noa Keijzer, Julia N S d'Hooghe, Nick H T Ten Hacken, Pallav L Shah, Els J M Weersink, Jôse Mara de Brito, Natalia de Souza Xavier Costa, Thais Mauad, Martijn C Nawijn, Judith M Vonk, Jouke T Annema, Janette K Burgess, Peter I Bonta |
Journal | The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology
(J Allergy Clin Immunol)
(Oct 05 2023)
ISSN: 1097-6825 [Electronic] United States |
PMID | 37805024
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Copyright | Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. |