Human bronchial smooth muscle cells are isolated from the major bronchia of asthmatic donors.
Asthma is an inflammatory disorder of the airways, which causes attacks of wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing in patients. Degrees of severity are unique to individual patients as are responses to drug treatments. Adhesion of eosinophils to bronchial epithelial cells, and the interaction of airway smooth muscle and sub-epithelial fibroblasts play a critical role in asthma pathology. During an asthma attack bronchiole smooth muscle tissue can constrict and decrease the flow of air in the airways. The amount of air flow can further be decreased by inflammation or excess mucus secretion.
Cryopreserved Diseased Bronchial Smooth Muscle cells stain positive for alpha smooth muscle actin and negative for von Willebrandfactor VIII. All cells test negative for mycoplasma, bacteria, yeast, and fungi. HIV-1, hepatitis B and hepatitisC are not detected for all donors and/or cell lots.