Contractile force generated by smooth muscle cells lining the airways is responsible for the acute bronchoconstriction and reduced airflow that characterises an asthma attack. This force is generated by sub-cellular acto-myosin interactions in the airway smooth muscle (ASM) cell. Key to the transmission of this force to the extracellular domain (and the rest of the tissue) is the further interaction of the ASM cell with its extracellular matrix (ECM) mediated by integrins that provide both mechanical and biochemical links between the cell and its ECM. I will present some models illustrating how mechanical behaviour emerges at the cell and tissue level from biochemical bond formation and dissociation, coupled to mechanical properties of the cell and ECM. Understanding these force-generating and force-transmission mechanisms could ultimately enable identification of potential targets to reverse bronchoconstriction and develop novel asthma therapies.