Asthma poses an increased risk for cardiovascular disorders, suggesting that allergy, which is an underlying process in asthma, causes atypical functioning of organs other than lungs. In a previous study in a guinea pig asthma model, we concluded that allergic sensitization increased aorta contractile responses to 5-HT. To further characterize these responses, here we explored the role of the 5-HT2 receptors family. We found that TCB-2 (5-HT2A agonist) and WAY161503 (5-HT2C agonist) induced aorta contractions resembling those elicited by 5-HT but less intense (~43 % and ~25 %, respectively). In these experiments, aortas from sensitized guinea pigs showed increased contractions to TCB-2, but not to WAY161503. In turn, MDL 100907 (5-HT2A antagonist) and RS-102221 (5-HT2C antagonist) caused a notably and a mild reduction of the 5-HT-induced contractions, respectively, with no differences seen between sensitized and non-sensitized tissues. BW723C86 (5-HT2B agonist) did not induce contractile responses and RS-127445 (5-HT2B antagonist) did not modify the contractile responses to 5-HT. In non-sensitized aortas, the pattern of protein expression of receptors was 5HT2B>5-HT2A=5-HT2C, which did not change in sensitized animals. In conclusion, we found that allergic sensitization increased the aorta contractile responses to 5-HT, partly mediated by enhanced responses of 5-HT2A receptors, which was unrelated to changes in the expression of these receptors.

• MeSH
• Aorta MeSH
• Asthma * MeSH
• Guinea Pigs MeSH
• Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT2 MeSH
• Receptors, Serotonin metabolism   MeSH
• Serotonin * MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Guinea Pigs MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT2 MeSH
• Receptors, Serotonin MeSH
• Serotonin * MeSH

Itch is the most common chief complaint in patients visiting dermatology clinics and is analogous to cough and also sneeze of the lower and upper respiratory tract, all three of which are host actions trying to clear noxious stimuli. The pathomechanisms of these symptoms are not completely determined. The itch can originate from a variety of etiologies. Itch originates following the activation of peripheral sensory nerve endings following damage or exposure to inflammatory mediators. More than one sensory nerve subtype is thought to subservepruriceptive itch which includes both unmyelinated C-fibers and thinly myelinated Adelta nerve fibers. There are a lot of mediators capable of stimulating these afferent nerves leading to itch. Cough and itch pathways are mediated by small-diameter sensory fibers. These cough and itch sensory fibers release neuropeptides upon activation, which leads to inflammation of the nerves. The inflammation is involved in the development of chronic conditions of itch and cough. The aim of this review is to point out the role of sensory nerves in the pathogenesis of cough and itching. The common aspects of itch and cough could lead to new thoughts and perspectives in both fields.

• MeSH
• Histamine Agonists adverse effects   MeSH
• Histamine adverse effects   MeSH
• Capsaicin adverse effects   MeSH
• Cough chemically induced   physiopathology   MeSH
• Sensory System Agents adverse effects   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Nerve Fibers, Myelinated drug effects   physiology   MeSH
• Nerve Fibers, Unmyelinated drug effects   physiology   MeSH
• Sensory Receptor Cells drug effects   physiology   MeSH
• Neurons, Afferent drug effects   physiology   MeSH
• Peripheral Nerves drug effects   physiopathology   MeSH
• Pruritus chemically induced   physiopathology   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Review MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Histamine Agonists MeSH
• Histamine MeSH
• Capsaicin MeSH
• Sensory System Agents MeSH