Airway smooth muscle plays a dominant role in bronchial asthma, as well as a significant role in various pulmonary diseases, such as chronic bronchitis, cystic fibrosis and emphysema. Myogenic, neurogenic, and humoral factors control airway smooth-muscle tone. This text provides a state-of-the-art summary and critical discussion of airway smooth muscle from a multidisciplinary point of view. Topics discussed include morphology, biochemical regulation, mechanical and electrophysiological behavior and reflex control of smooth muscle; the epithelium-derived relaxing factor; and methods to measure smooth muscle function in vivo in humans and experimental animals, as well as in vitro in isolated airway tissues. Also discussed are calcium and potassium channels and receptors for adrenergic, cholinergic and histaminergic systems in modulating receptor-response coupling in airway smooth muscle. Airway Smooth Muscle: Modulation of Receptors and Response provides essential information for researchers, teachers, pulmonary specialists and allergists, and students interested in learning about airway smooth muscle.
