Airway nociceptors activated by pro-inflammatory cytokines.
The present studies evaluate whether the vagus nerves link the lungs' immune and neural systems by transmitting information through pulmonary nociceptors. Single unit activities from pulmonary nociceptors [C fiber receptors (CFRs) and high threshold Adelta fiber receptors (HTARs)] were recorded from the cervical vagus nerve in anesthetized, open-chest, and mechanically ventilated rabbits. Interleukin1beta was then injected into the nociceptor field (IL-1beta, 10 microg/ml, 20 microl). Both CFRs and HTARs were stimulated by the local injection; their activities increased from 0.2+/-0.1 to 1.8+/-0.5 imp/s (n=10; p<0.01), and from 0.2+/-0.1 to 1.1+/-0.1 imp/s, respectively (n=6; p<0.01). These increases were greatly attenuated by simultaneous administration of IL-1beta with IL-1 ra, a natural IL-1 receptor antagonist. The nociceptors were not stimulated by local injection of normal saline. Our data demonstrate that nociceptors can be activated by pro-inflammatory cytokines and support the hypothesis that airway nociceptors transmit immune signals from the lung to the brain.
Yu
Jerry
J
Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA. j0yu0001@louisville.edu
Lin
Shuxin
S
Zhang
Jingwen
J
Otmishi
Peyman
P
Guardiola
Juan J
JJ
D000818:Animals; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000502:physiology*; D007823:Laryngeal Nerves / Q000502:physiology; D007830:Larynx / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000502:physiology*; D036421:Nerve Fibers, Unmyelinated / Q000502:physiology; D015213:Neuroimmunomodulation / Q000502:physiology; D009619:Nociceptors / Q000502:physiology*; D011817:Rabbits; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D014132:Trachea / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology*; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000502:physiology
D053583:Interleukin-1beta