Bronchial thermoplasty decreases airway remodelling by blocking epithelium-derived heat shock protein-60 secretion and protein arginine methyltransferase-1 in fibroblasts

Q SunL FangM Roth et al

Bronchial thermoplasty (BT) is the only therapy that provides a lasting reduction in airway wall remodelling but it’s mechanism of action is not well understood. It is an endoscopic procedure delivering localised radiofrequency waves to heat the airway tissue and has been shown to reduces asthma exacerbations, emergency department visits and hospitalisation up to 5 years after BT treatment in selected patients.            The aim of this study was to characterise the changes of remodelling regulating signalling pathways in asthma by BT by collecting primary bronchial epithelial cells from 62 patients and Bronchoalveolar lavage from eight patients with severe asthma before and after BT. Epithelial cell culture supernatant (Epi.S) was collected and applied to primary fibroblasts. Their results implied that BT reduces fibroblast remodelling through modifying the function of epithelial cells, especially by reducing HSP60 secretion and subsequent signalling pathways that regulate PRMT1 expression.