The Airway Neurogenic Inflammation: Clinical and Pharmacological Implications

Authors: Pisi, Giovanna; Olivieri, Dario; Chetta, Alfredo

Source: Inflammation & Allergy - Drug Targets (Formerly Current Drug Targets - Inflammation & Allergy), Volume 8, Number 3, July 2009 , pp. 176-181(6)

Publisher: Bentham Science Publishers

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Abstract:

Bronchial airway microvasculature consists in a developed network of vessels, which plays an important role in normal homeostasis as well as in inflammatory airway processes. Its airway autonomic neural control includes cholinergic and adrenergic innervation, as well as nonadrenergic noncholinergic system. The nerve/vessel interplay is complex and not yet completely clarified. In response to inspired air conditions, the sensory nerves can recruit appropriate reflexes, which can induce different vascular processes, such as vasodilatation, vasoconstriction, plasma extravasation and exudation. Additionally, the stimulation of C fibres may result in an axon local reflex with antidromic conduction down afferent nerve collaterals and release of sensory neuropeptides, which in turn may act on the mucosal vasculature to promote vasodilatation and microvascular leakage. The neurogenic inflammation may play a key role in allergic diseases, such as asthma, as well as in COPD, a smoking-related disease. This review deals with the interactions of vessels and nerves within the airway mucosa under healthy conditions and in inflammatory diseases. The clinical and pharmacological implications are also described.

Keywords: Neurogenic inflammation; asthma; COPD

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/187152809788681047

Publication date: 2009-07-01

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Inflammation & Allergy - Drug Targets aims to cover all the latest and outstanding developments on the medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, molecular biology, genomics and biochemistry of contemporary molecular targets involved in inflammation and allergy e.g. disease specific proteins, receptors, enzymes, genes. Each issue of the journal contains a series of timely in-depth reviews written by leaders in the field covering a range of current topics on drug targets involved in inflammation and allergy. As the discovery, identification, characterization and validation of novel human drug targets for anti-inflammation and allergy drug discovery continues to grow, this journal has become essential reading for all pharmaceutical scientists involved in drug discovery and development.

The Airway Neurogenic Inflammation: Clinical and Pharmacological Implications

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