During inflammation, leukocytes influx into lung compartments and interact with extracellular
matrix (ECM). Two ECM components, versican and hyaluronan, increase in a range of lung
diseases. The interaction of leukocytes with these ECM components controls leukocyte
retention and accumulation, proliferation, migration, differentiation, and activation as part of
the inflammatory phase of lung disease. In addition, bronchial epithelial cells from asthmatic
children co-cultured with human lung fibroblasts generate an ECM that is adherent for …