Basic & Clinical Medicine ›› 2026, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (2): 293-297.doi: 10.16352/j.issn.1001-6325.2026.02.0293

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Role of Notch signaling pathway in bronchial asthma

CHEN Menglei, CUI Yun*   

  1. Department of Respiratory Medicine, Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100091, China
  • Received:2025-02-13 Revised:2025-05-28 Online:2026-02-05 Published:2026-01-21
  • Contact: * cui-yun@sohu.com

Abstract: The Notch signaling pathway is a critical cellular signaling pathway closely associated with physiological processes such as cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. Its aberrant activation contributes to the pathological progression of asthma through multiple mechanisms. In terms of airway inflammation, the Notch signaling pathway exacerbates T lymphocyte imbalance, leading to excessive release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Regarding airway hyperresponsiveness, it enhances airway smooth muscle sensitivity and mucus hypersecretion by upregulating tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) expression and promoting mucin MUC5AC secretion. In the context of airway remodeling, the Notch signaling pathway facilitates the loss of multiciliated cells while simultaneously increasing MUC5AC expression and secretion. Targeted intervention strategies, including γ-secretase inhibitors, mesenchymal stem cells, and active components of traditional Chinese medicine, have demonstrated potential in alleviating asthma symptoms by modulating the Notch pathway. These findings not only deepen the understanding of asthma pathogenesis but also provide a theoretical foundation for developing novel targeted therapies.

Key words: Notch signaling pathway, asthma, therapeutic target

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