Suppression of adrenomedullin contributes to vascular leakage and altered epithelial repair during asthma

Background The anti‐inflammatory peptide, adrenomedullin (AM), and its cognate receptor are expressed in lung tissue, but its pathophysiological significance in airway inflammation is unknown. Objectives This study investigated whether allergen‐induced airway inflammation involves an impaired local AM response. Methods Airway AM expression was measured in acute and chronically sensitized mice following allergen inhalation and in airway epithelial cells of asthmatic and nonasthmatic patients. The effects of AM on experimental allergen‐induced airway inflammation and of AM on lung epithelial repair in vitro were investigated. Results Adrenomedullin mRNA levels were significantly (P