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Central European Journal of Medicine* E-mail: a_grigoras6600@yahoo.comApoptosis quantification at the respiratory epithelium level in asthmaReceived 6 January 2010; Accepted 20 April 2010Abstract: The „changes” occurring in the expression of the factors involved in the apoptotic chain at the level of the respiratory epithelium in asthma is still an unsolved issue. At this level an important role is played by the mitochondria and the factors that influence the mem-brane permeability, especially the Bcl-2 super family. The purpose of this study is to evaluate both the changes in the expression of the Bcl-2 and of the Bax proapoptotic factors at the respiratory epithelium level in 21 patients with bronchial asthma of different degrees of severity of disease (according to GINA – Global Initiative For Asthma). To accomplish this, fragments of the bronchial mucosa were ob-tained through fiberbronchoscopy, being afterwords hystologically prepare in view of the immunomarking with anti Bcl-2 and anti-Bax antibodies. Microscopic examination revealed an important decrease in the level of proapoptotic factor Bcl-2 in patients with persistent severe forms of the disease and a significant decrease in the expression of the proapototic Bax factor at the respiratory epithelium level even in the early stages of the disease. Knowing all the factors involved in apoptosis at the respiratory epithelium level in bronchial asthma, as well as of their expression changes will be at the core of new therapeutical approaches to of this disease. © Versita Sp. z o.o.Keywords: Bronchial asthma • Apoptosis • Bax • Bcl-2 • Respiratory epithelium 1 Department of Histology, School of Medicine, “Gr.T.Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, No. 16 Universitatii Street, 700115 Iasi, Romania2 Outpatient Department, Clinic of Pulmonary Diseases, No. 30 I. Cihac Street, 700115 Iasi, Romania 3 Department of Pneumology, School of Medicine, “Gr.T.Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, No. 16 Universitatii Street, 700115 Iasi, Romania4 Department of Allergology and Immunology, School of Medicine, “Gr.T.Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, No. 16 Universitatii Street, 700115 Iasi, Romania5 Clinical Hospital Diseases “Sf. Parascheva”, No. 2 Octav Botez Street, 700116 Iasi, RomaniaAdriana Grigora?1*, Constantin Cristian Grigora?2, Traian Mih?escu3, Liliana Vere?4, Coriolan Cotu?iu1, Alina Floarea-Strat5Research Article1. IntroductionAsthma involves a chronic aggression exerted over the respiratory epithelium. The epithelium becomes fragile, which is morphologically expressed through aspects of total or partial denudation. The respiratory epithelium undergoing hyperplasic transformation of the goblet cells and sometimes lesions of squamous metaplasia that represents at the same time an important center of cytokines secretion. The epithelial response is manifested by an increase in the cell proliferation rate and by ,,changes” of the cell surviving rate secondary to the intervention of the proteins involved in regulating apoptosis. The increase in epithelial cell apoptosis observed in asthma patients is in part the consequence of cytotoxic factors produced by inflammatory cells. But recent research suggests that apart from these, corticosteroid treatments (including inhalatory Cent. Eur. J. Med. • 5(5) • 2010 • 556-564DOI: 10.2478/s11536-010-0039-0556