Nociceptor Neurons Control Pollution-exacerbated Asthma

Half of the severe asthma patients suffer from uncontrolled exacerbations. Our work in neuro-immunology has shown that, context asthma, vagal nociceptor neurons drive a feed-forward inflammatory loop with lung immune cells, and that silencing these reverses allergic airway inflammation (AAI). Here, we aim to expand findings clinically relevant model pollution exacerbated asthma. Experimental allergen Ovalbumin (OVA) was co-exposed fine particulate matter (FPM) OVA-sensitized wild type or sensory neuron-ablated TRPV1-DTA mice. Cells bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were immunophenotyped by flow cytometry. Gene expression isolated alveolar macrophages whole tissue assessed RT-qPCR. We found mice FPM OVA show an aberrant profile characterized mixed infiltration neutrophil eosinophil as well expansion γδ T cells. Along changes, neurotrophic factor artemin increased FPM-stimulated macrophage. In addition, discovered genetic ablation prevents development exacerbation terms cell BALF expansion, co-exposure exacerbates OVA-induced AAI TRPV1+ neuron-dependent fashion. parallel, is induced exposure FPM, which implies artemin-related neuroimmune network such AAI.