Angiogenesis is a prominent feature of remodeling in asthma. Many proangiogenic factors are up-regulated in asthma, but little is known about levels of endogenous antiangiogenic agents. Collagen IV is decreased in the airway basement membrane in asthma. It has six alpha chains, of which the noncollagenous domain-1 domains have endogenous antiangiogenic properties.
Respiratory Research Group, Discipline of Pharmacology, Bosch Building, D05, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia 2006. janette@pharmacol.usyd.edu.au