TY - JOUR T1 - Airway smooth muscle cells from severe asthma patients with fixed airflow obstruction are responsive to steroid and bronchodilator treatment <em>in vitro</em> JF - ERJ Open Research JO - erjor DO - 10.1183/23120541.00117-2021 SP - 00117-2021 AU - Sandra Rutting AU - Dia Xenaki AU - Karosham D. Reddy AU - Melissa Baraket AU - David G. Chapman AU - Gregory G. King AU - Brian G. Oliver AU - Katrina O. Tonga Y1 - 2021/01/01 UR - http://openres.ersjournals.com/content/early/2021/04/01/23120541.00117-2021.abstract N2 - Asthma is characterised by recurrent symptoms associated with variable airflow obstruction and airway hyperresponsiveness, all of which are improved with combination inhaled corticosteroids (ICS)/long-acting β-agonist (LABA) treatment in mild-to-moderate asthma [1]. A proportion of patients however develop fixed airflow obstruction (FAO), despite optimised treatment. FAO is prevalent in up to 60% of patients with severe asthma, and is associated with more rapid decline in lung function and increased symptoms [2]. The underlying mechanisms of FAO in asthma are poorly understood; therefore, development of novel treatment strategies remain a challenge.FootnotesThis manuscript has recently been accepted for publication in the ERJ Open Research. It is published here in its accepted form prior to copyediting and typesetting by our production team. After these production processes are complete and the authors have approved the resulting proofs, the article will move to the latest issue of the ERJOR online. Please open or download the PDF to view this article.Conflict of interest: Dr. Rutting has nothing to disclose.Conflict of interest: Dr. Xenaki has nothing to disclose.Conflict of interest: Mr. Reddy has nothing to disclose.Conflict of interest: Dr. Chapman has nothing to disclose.Conflict of interest:Conflict of interest: Dr. King reports grants, personal fees and non-financial support from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Chiesi, GlaxoSmithKline, Menarini, MundiPharma and Novartis; and 2) unrestricted research grants from: NHMRC, Boehringer Ingelheim, CycloPharma, GlaxoSmithKline, Menarini, MundiPharma, Philanthropic individuals and societies, non-financial support and other from Restech, Italy during the conduct of the study.Conflict of interest: Dr. Oliver has nothing to disclose.Conflict of interest: Dr. Tonga reports grants from Lung Foundation Australia Ludwig Engel grant-in-aid, during the conduct of the study. ER -