Inflammatory cells as source of tachykinin-induced mucus secretion in chronic bronchitis

The present data directly demonstrate the presence of both PPT-A mRNA and tachykinin immunoreactivity in inflammatory airway cells which are in direct contact to NK-1 receptor positive glandular myoepithelium. Our findings indicate that besides neurally released tachykinins, also inflammatory cell-derived tachykinins may lead to glandular secretion via NK-1 receptor stimulation. This points to a major second source of these proinflammatory mediators in chronic inflammatory airway diseases such as COPD or asthma.