Journal Article

Increased Expression of Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid-1 in Airway Nerves of Chronic Cough

Fischer, Axel, Chung, K. Fan, Hew, Mark, Groneberg, David A, Cosio, Borja, Niimi, Akio, Dinh, Q. Thai

2004

Overview

Abstract Transient receptor potential vanniloid-1 (TRPV-1) mediates the cough response induced by the pepper extract capsaicin and is expressed in sensory nerves that innervate the airway wall. We determined the expression of TRPV-1 in the airways of patients with chronic persistent cough of diverse causes and with an enhanced capsaicin cough response. We obtained airway mucosal biopsies by fiberoptic bronchoscopy in 29 patients with chronic cough and 16 healthy volunteers without a cough. Immunostaining for nerve profiles with anti–protein gene product (PGP)-9.5 antibody showed no increase in nerve profiles in the airway epithelium of patients with chronic cough; however, with an anti–TRPV-1 antibody, there was a fivefold increase of TRPV-1 staining nerve profiles (p < 0.001). There was a significant correlation between capsaicin tussive response and the number of TRPV-1–positive nerves within the patients with cough. Our findings indicate that TRPV-1 receptors may contribute to an enhanced cough reflex and the cough response in chronic persistent cough of diverse causes.

• Publisher: Am Thoracic Soc,Oxford University Press,American Lung Association
• Subject: Adult / Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy / Antibodies / Asthma / Biological and medical sciences / Biopsy / Bronchi - innervation / Bronchi - metabolism / Bronchi - pathology / Bronchoscopy / Chronic Disease / Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma / Cloning / Cough - metabolism / Emergency and intensive respiratory care / Female / Gastroesophageal reflux / Humans / Intensive care medicine / Ion Channels - biosynthesis / Ion Channels - immunology / Male / Medical sciences / Middle Aged / Pneumology / TRPV Cation Channels