Transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 mediates toluene diisocyanate-evoked respiratory irritation.

ABSTRACT: Toluene diisocyanate (TDI), a reactive, hazardous irritant, causes respiratory symptoms such as cough, rhinitis, dyspnea, and chest tightness in exposed workers. Although previous animal studies have shown that TDI causes respiratory reflexes that are abolished by desensitization of capsaicin-sensitive sensory nerves, the specific molecular identity of the transducer(s) responsible for sensing this noxious stimulus has, to date, remained elusive. Recent studies have demonstrated that transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1), an ion channel largely restricted to a subset of capsaicin-sensitive sensory nerves, functions as a transducer capable of initiating reflex responses to many reactive chemical stimuli. We therefore hypothesized that TRPA1 is the primary molecular transducer throu

SUBMITTER: Taylor-Clark TE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2689921 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature