title: Sensory nerves and airway irritability.
abstract: The lung, like many other organs, is innervated by a variety of sensory nerves and by nerves of the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems that regulate the function of cells within the respiratory tract. Activation of sensory nerves by both mechanical and chemical stimuli elicits a number of defensive reflexes, including cough, altered breathing pattern, and altered autonomic drive, which are important for normal lung homeostasis. However, diseases that afflict the lung are associated with altered reflexes, resulting in a variety of symptoms, including increased cough, dyspnea, airways obstruction, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness. This review summarizes the current knowledge concerning the physiological role of different sensory nerve subtypes that innervate the lung, the factors which lead to their activation, and pharmacological approaches that have been used to interrogate the function of these nerves. This information may potentially facilitate the identification of novel drug targets for the treatment of respiratory disorders such as cough, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
authors: Johns Hopkins Asthma and Allergy Center, 5501 Hopkins Bayview Circle, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA. bjc@jhmi.edu
authors: B J
authors: BJ
authors: Canning
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Spina
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials; D000344:Afferent Pathways / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D000818:Animals; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003371:Cough / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000294:innervation*; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000294:innervation*; D010275:Parasympathetic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012018:Reflex / Q000187:drug effects; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics; D019141:Respiratory System Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D011984:Sensory Receptor Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D012684:Sensory Thresholds; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D019141:Respiratory System Agents