American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Feb 2013
The transmembrane protein 16A Ca(2+)-activated Cl- channel in airway smooth muscle contributes to airway hyperresponsiveness.
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder with a characteristic of airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR). Ca(2+)-activated Cl(-) [Cl((Ca))] channels are inferred to be involved in AHR, yet their molecular nature and the cell type they act within to mediate this response remain unknown. ⋯ Tmem16a encodes Cl((Ca)) channels in ASM and contributes to Ca(2+) agonist-induced contraction. In addition, up-regulation of TMEM16A and its augmented activation contribute to AHR in an ovalbumin-sensitized mouse model of chronic asthma. TMEM16A may represent a potential therapeutic target for asthma.