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 VL - 7 IS - 2 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 - 2021/04/01 UR - http://openres.ersjournals.com/content/7/2/00117-2021.abstract N2 - Asthma is characterised by recurrent symptoms associated with variable airflow obstruction and airway hyperresponsiveness, all of which are improved with combination inhaled corticosteroid (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 a 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 remains a challenge.Airway smooth muscle cells from severe asthma patients with FAO respond to β2-agonists and corticosteroids in vitro, and at a level similar to mild asthmatics. Intrinsic dysfunction of these signalling pathways is unlikely to contribute to FAO. https://bit.ly/3muvNsW ER -