Adrenomedullin – a protective factor in asthma?

Background: The pathophysiological significance in airway inflammation of the anti-inflammatory peptide, adrenomedullin (AM) and its cognate receptor, which are present in the lung, is unknown. Objectives: We aimed to investigate how allergen-induced airway inflammation affects local adrenomedullin expression and the significance of any lung adrenomedullin response. Methods: Airway adrenomedullin expression was measured after inhaled allergen-induced acute and chronically-sensitized mice and in airway epithelial cells of asthmatic and non-asthmatic patients. The pharmacological effects of adrenomedullin on exper…