When you have water in the lungs or acid reflux linked to gastric reflux, it is the neuroendocrine cells that alert the brain, which triggers the cough.
- Neuroendocrine (NE) cells are present throughout the body and produce hormones, particularly in response to signals from the nervous system.
- Researchers have studied their role in the lungs, larynx and trachea.
- They discovered that NE cells in the respiratory tract alert the brain in the event of water in the lungs or acid reflux linked to gastric reflux, which causes coughing.
Neuroendocrines or NE is the name of cells present in our lungs, which protect us when we swallow wrongly. Indeed, according to a study published in the journal Science, these cells DO signal to the brain that water is reaching the lungs, which triggers coughing. They also sound the alarm when there is acid reflux linked to gastric reflux which reaches the throat, which causes the same reaction. “This study gives us a lot of information not only on how our body protects our respiratory tract (…), but also, more broadly, on how internal organs act as guardians of the outside world.“, explains David Julius, main author of this study, in a communicated.
Brain: neuroendocrine cells transmit signals to sensory neurons
As a reminder, the neuroendocrine cells (NE) are present throughout the body. They produce and release hormones, particularly in response to signals from the nervous system. “We knew the function of these cells in the lungs, but not in the upper respiratory tractsays Laura Seeholzer, another author. The only reason we knew they existed in the larynx is because some people get very rare neuroendocrine tumors in the larynx.“
During their work, the researchers isolated NE cells from the lungs, larynx and trachea to better study them. Thus, they discovered that NE cells in the airways could emit signals in response to water and acid. To better understand this phenomenon, scientists worked on mice. Some had NE cells and others lacked them. Thus, it was observed that these NE cells could also transmit signals to sensory neurons in the brain: when the rodents swallowed water, the NE cells activated and the animals coughed. In contrast, in mice that did not have NE cells, there was no reaction if they had water in their airways.
According to the researchers, NE cells in the airways are similar to taste buds or ear hairs, meaning they are connected to nerves that send sensory information to the brain.
Neuroendocrine cells as a treatment?
“If you’ve ever aspirated water or had acid reflux related to gastric reflux, you know that it’s very painful: you immediately cough, gag and try to clear your airways, underlines Laura Seeholzer. Now we have a better understanding of how the body triggers this.“
And these NE cells are precious. Indeed, as we age, this reflex diminishes in elderly or sick people. The researchers believe that their discovery could help to better understand this phenomenon. “Further work is needed to better understand how NE cells potentially change with disease, smoking or aging” concludes Laura Seeholzer. Ultimately, these NE cells could be used to increase sensitivity in the elderly and sick or to treat chronic cough associated with acid reflux.
