Allergic airway inflammation induces tachykinin peptides expression in vagal sensory neurons innervating mouse airways.

Background: Allergic airway inflammation has been shown to induce pro-inflammatory neuropeptides such as tachykinin peptides substance P (SP) and neurokinin A (NKA) together with related peptide like calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in nodose sensory neurons innervating guinea-pig airways.

Objective: The present study was designed to examine the effects of allergen sensitization and challenge on the SP/NKA expression in the jugular-nodose ganglion neurons innervating the murine airways.

Methods: Using retrograde neuronal tracing technique in combination with double-labelling immunohistochemistry, the expression of SP/NKA was investigated in a murine model of allergic airway inflammation.