A 34-year-old man comes to the office due to shortness of breath. He reports an episodic cough and chest tightness for the past 4 months. The patient was recently on a 2-week vacation in Arizona and reports that he had no symptoms during the trip but that they restarted when he returned home. He has no prior medical conditions and takes no medications. The patient smoked marijuana in his early 20s for several years but does not use tobacco or alcohol. He started working at a chemical manufacturing factory 7 months ago and has had no sick contacts. Temperature is 36.7 C (98 F), blood pressure is 120/80 mm Hg, pulse is 76/min, and respirations are 18/min. On physical examination, expiration is mildly prolonged and there are scattered wheezes. Office spirometry shows an FEV1/FVC of 82%, and chest radiography reveals no abnormalities. Which of the following features is most likely involved in the pathogenesis of this patient's condition?
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