Airway Innervation and Plasticity in Asthma

Abstract

Airway nerves represent a mechanistically and therapeutically important aspectthat requires better highlighting in the context of diseases such asasthma. Altered structure and function (plasticity) of afferent and efferentairway innervation can contribute to airway diseases. We describe establishedanatomy, current understanding of how plasticity occurs, and contributions ofplasticity to asthma, focusing on target-derived growth factors (neurotrophins).Perspectives toward novel treatment strategies and future research are provided.