*T-helper 1 cells secrete cytokines that help cytotoxic T-cells, while TH2 cells secrete cytokines that help B-cells secrete antibodies including IgE.

*Transforming Growth factor is thought to be involved in the remodeling process of asthmatic airways with it’s profibrotic effect (increased fibrosis or thickening).  In a study done by Barbato and colleagues, they were interested in measuring inflammatory cells, basement membrane thickness, and transforming growth factor & it’s type 1 and type 2 receptor expression in asthmatic children.  Findings demonstrated that asthmatic children had significantly decreased expression of their TGF type 2 receptor sites, when compared to the non asthmatic control group in their study. They hypothesized that due to the lack of adequate receptor sites, the asthmatic children where not able to exert the usual anti-inflammatory activities produced by TGF. Interestingly, this study did not find a significant correlation between transforming growth factor cells (or it’s receptors) and basement membrane thickness, suggesting TGF does not contribute to profibrotic activity (thus airway remodeling) in school aged children with asthma. These findings suggest the impaired TGF receptor sites may lead to the inflammatory manifestations seen in school aged children with asthma.