Asthma attacks reshape airway tissue through mechanical stress, lung-on-a-chip reveals

Article excerpt

Researchers using a lung-on-a-chip model discovered that asthma attacks physically reshape airway tissue through mechanical stress rather than inflammation alone. The finding, detailed in a new study, reveals how the repeated constriction and relaxation of airways during attacks causes structural changes that may explain why asthmatics develop thickened, scarred airways over time. About 25 million Americans have asthma, triggered by allergens, pollution, and other irritants that cause chronic inflammation and breathing problems. The lab-grown tissue model allowed scientists to observe these mechanical forces at work in ways traditional research couldn't capture, potentially opening new treatment approaches.