How lung nerves signal the brain to cause airway tightening
Dissecting the Interoception Circuit that Controls Airway Constriction
This work looks at how nerve signals from the lung travel to the brain and back and how that may cause airway tightening in people with asthma or allergy-related breathing problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11172673 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient perspective, the team uses mouse models to map the nerve pathways that connect the lung and brain. They combine 3-D lightsheet imaging and viral tracing to see which nerve cells link the lung to brain centers, and single-cell RNA methods to identify the active cell types. The researchers also use tools that turn specific nerve cells on or off (chemogenetics and optogenetics) and targeted toxin methods to test how those circuits change airway responsiveness. Findings aim to reveal nerve targets that might be manipulated to reduce airway tightening.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with asthma or allergy-related airway hyperresponsiveness would be the most relevant patient group for future trials based on this work.
Not a fit: Patients whose breathing problems stem from fixed structural airway damage, heart disease, or non-respiratory causes of breathlessness may not benefit from these nerve-focused approaches.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could point to new nerve-based targets or neuromodulation strategies to prevent or reduce airway hyperresponsiveness in asthma or allergic lung disease.
How similar studies have performed: Related circuit-mapping and neuromodulation experiments have shown promise in animal models, but translating these findings into human treatments is still largely untested.
Where this research is happening
La Jolla, United States
- University of California, San Diego — La Jolla, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sun, Xin — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Sun, Xin
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.