Airway Sensory Nerve Density Is Increased in Chronic Cough.
Am J Respir Crit Care Med
; 203(3): 348-355, 2021 02 01.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-32809840
ABSTRACT
Rationale Chronic cough is characterized by frequent urges to cough and a heightened sensitivity to inhaled irritants. Airway sensory nerves trigger cough. We hypothesized that sensory nerve density is increased in chronic cough, which may contribute to excessive and persistent coughing.Objectives:
To measure airway nerve density (axonal length) and complexity (nerve branching, neuropeptide expression) in humans with and without chronic cough.Methods:
Bronchoscopic human airway biopsies were immunolabeled for nerves and the sensory neuropeptide substance P. Eosinophil peroxidase was also quantified given previous reports showing associations between eosinophils and nerve density. Three-dimensional image z-stacks of epithelium and subepithelium were generated using confocal microscopy, and from these z-stacks, total nerve length, the number of nerve branch points, substance P expression, and eosinophil peroxidase were quantified within each airway compartment.Measurements and MainResults:
Nerve length and the number of branch points were significantly increased in epithelium, but not subepithelium, in chronic cough compared with healthy airways. Substance P expression was scarce and was similar in chronic cough and healthy airways. Nerve length and branching were not associated with eosinophil peroxidase nor with demographics such as age and sex in either group.Conclusions:
Airway epithelial sensory nerve density is increased in chronic cough, suggesting sensory neuroplasticity contributes to cough hypersensitivity.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Células Receptoras Sensoriais
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Sistema Respiratório
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Broncoscopia
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Tosse
Limite:
Adult
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Aged
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Female
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Humans
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Male
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Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Am J Respir Crit Care Med
Assunto da revista:
TERAPIA INTENSIVA
Ano de publicação:
2021
Tipo de documento:
Article