Nonadrenergic and noncholinergic pathways appear to be important in regulating lung functions. The neurotransmitters intrinsic to the nonadrenergic and noncholinergic nerves are peptides. These neuropeptides probably play a significant role in the pathogenesis of asthma by influencing airway tone, pulmonary vasomotor tone, mucus production, mucosal permeability, and inflammatory cell influx and mediator release. This paper reviews the function of these lung neuropeptides and speculates on the role of these peptides in the pathophysiology of asthma.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BarnesP.J.Neural control of human airways in health and disease. Am Rev Respir Dis134: 1289–1314, 1986.
2.
BarnesP.J.Neuropeptides in the lung: localization, function, and pathophysiologic implications. J Allergy Clin Immunol79: 285–295, 1987.
3.
CasaleT.B.Neuromechanisms of asthma. Ann Allergy59: 391–398, 1987.
RichardsonJ., BélandJ.Nonadrenergic inhibitory nervous system in human airways. J Appl Physiol41: 764–771, 1976.
6.
MatsuzakiY., HamasakiY., SaidS.I.Vasoactive intestinal peptide: a possible transmitter of nonadrenergic relaxation of guinea pig airways. Science210: 1252–1253, 1980.
7.
MoriceA., UnwinR.J., SeverP.S.Vasoactive intestinal peptide causes bronchodilation and protects against histamine-induced bronchoconstriction in asthmatic subjects. Lancet2: 1225–1226, 1983.
8.
MoriceA.H., SeverP.S.Vasoactive intestinal peptide as a bronchodilator in severe asthma. Peptides7(suppl 1): 279–280, 1986.
9.
PalmerJ.B.D., CussF.M.C., WarrenJ.B., BlankM., BloomS.R., BarnesP.J.The effect of infused vasoactive intestinal peptide on airway function in normal subjects. Thorax41: 663–666, 1986.
10.
BarnesP.J., DixonC.M.S.The effect of inhaled vasoactive intestinal peptide on bronchial reactivity to histamine in humans. Am Rev Respir Dis130: 162–166, 1984.
11.
DeyR.D., ShannonW.A.Jr., SaidS.I.Localization of VI-immunoreactive nerves in airways and pulmonary vessels of dogs, cats and human subjects. Cell Tissue Res220: 231–238, 1981.
12.
LaitinenA., PartanenM., HervonenA., Pelto-HuikkoM., LaitinenL.A.VIP-like immunoreactive nerves in human respiratory tract: light and electron microscopic study. Histochemistry82: 313–319, 1985.
13.
CarstairsJ.R., BarnesP.J.Visualization of vasoactive intestinal peptide receptors in human and guinea pig lung. J Pharmacol Exp Ther239: 249–255, 1986.
14.
UndemB.J., DickE.C., BucknerC.K.Inhibition by vasoactive intestinal peptide of antigen-induced histamine release from guinea-pig minced lung. Eur J Pharmacol88: 247–250, 1983.
15.
LundbergJ.M., FahrenkrugJ., HökfeltT., MartlingC-R, LarssonO., TatemotoK., ÄnggårdA.Co-existence of peptide HI (PHI) and VIP in nerves regulating blood flow and bronchial smooth muscle tone in various mammals including man. Peptides5: 593–606, 1984.
16.
PalmerJ.B.D., CussF.M.C., BarnesP.J.VIP and PHM and their role in nonadrenergic inhibitory responses in isolated human airways. J Appl Physiol61: 1322–1328, 1986.
17.
SzentivanyiA.The beta adrenergic theory of the atopic abnormality in bronchial asthma. J Allergy42: 203–232, 1968.
18.
LundbergJ.M., SariaA., BrodinE., RosellS., FolkersK.A substance P antagonist inhibits vagally induced increase in vascular permeability and bronchial smooth muscle contraction in the guinea pig. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA80: 1120–1124, 1983.
19.
LundbergJ.M., MartlingC-R, SariaA.Substance P and capsaicin-induced contraction of human bronchi. Acta Physiol Scand119: 49–53, 1983.
20.
FullerR.W., MaxwellD.L., DixonC.M.S., McGregorG.P., BarnesV.F., BloomS.R., BarnesP.J.Effect of substance P on cardiovascular and respiratory function in subjects. J Appl Physiol62: 1473–1479, 1987.
21.
JoosG., PauwelsR., Van Der StraetenM.Effect of inhaled substance P and neurokinin A on the airways of normal and asthmatic subjects. Thorax42: 779–783, 1987.
22.
FullerR.W., DixonC.M.S., BarnesP.J.Bronchoconstrictor response to inhaled capsaicin in humans. J Appl Physiol58: 1080–1084, 1985.
23.
LundbergJ.M., SariaA.Capsaicin-induced desensitization of airway mucosa to cigarette smoke, mechanical and chemical irritants. Nature302: 251–253, 1983.
24.
CarstairsJ.R., BarnesP.J.Autoradiographic mapping of substance P receptors in lung. Eur J Pharmacol127: 295–296, 1986.
25.
LeeC-M, CampbellN.J., WilliamsB.J., IversenL.L.Multiple tachykinin binding sites in peripheral tissues and in brain. Eur J Pharmacol130: 209–217, 1986.
26.
McGillisJ.P., OrganistM.L., PayanD.G.Substance P and immunoregulation. FASEB J46: 196–199, 1987.
27.
NawaH., HiroseT., TakashimaH., InayamaS., NakanishiS.Nucleotide sequences of cloned cDNAs for two types of bovine brain substance P precursor. Nature306: 32–36, 1983.
28.
UchidaY., NomuraA., OhtsukaM., HasegawaS., GotoK., KimuraS., SugitaY., UchiyamaY.Neurokinin A as a potent bronchoconstrictor. Am Rev Respir Dis136: 718–721, 1987.
29.
LundbergJ.M., LundbladL., MartlingC-R, SariaA., StjärneP., ÅnggårdA.Coexistence of multiple peptides and classic transmitters in airway neurons: functional and pathophysiologic aspects. Am Rev Respir Dis136: S16–S22, 1987.
30.
BarnesP.J.Neuropeptides in human airways: function and clinical implications. Am Rev Respir Dis136: S77–S83, 1987.
31.
PalmerJ.B.B., CussF.M.C., MulderryP.K., GhateiM.A., SpringallD.R., CadieuxA., BloomS.R., PolakJ.M., BarnesP.J.Calcitonin gene-related peptide is localized to human airway nerves and potently constricts human airway smooth muscle. Br J Pharmacol91: 95–101, 1987.
32.
LaitinenL.A., HeinoM., LaitinenA., KavaT., HaahtelaT.Damage of the airway epithelium and bronchial reactivity in patients with asthma. Am Rev Respir Dis131: 599–606, 1985.
33.
SheppardM.N., PolakJ.M., AllenJ.M., BloomS.R.Neuropeptide tyrosine (NPY): a newly discovered peptide is present in the mammalian respiratory tract. Thorax39: 326–330, 1984.
34.
CheungA., PolakJ.M., BauerF.E., CadieuxA., ChristofidesN.D., SpringallD.R., BloomS.R.Distribution of galanin immunoreactivity in the respiratory tract of pig, guinea pig, rat, and dog. Thorax40: 889–896, 1985.
35.
EkbladE., HåkansonR., SundlerF., WahlestedtC.Galanin: neuromodulatory and direct contractile effects on smooth muscle preparations. Br J Pharmacol86: 241–246, 1985.
