OBJECTIVE: @entity4756 are neuropeptides present in sensory nerves in the lung. Aside from their role as neurotransmitters, these peptides exert pro-inflammatory and protective effects in the airways. Although @entity4756 may be released from sensory nerves, there is increasing evidence that they are also produced by non-neuronal cells. The net effect of @entity4756 will likely result from relative changes in the levels of @entity4756 , @entity4756 receptors and @entity4756 degrading enzymes. We investigated whether @entity4756 might be produced locally in @entity1 airway epithelium in vivo, and whether mRNA levels for either @entity4756 , their receptors, or for the @entity4756 degrading enzyme @entity2282 ( @entity2282 ) were altered in subjects with chronic @entity3617 compared to normals. METHODOLOGY: We used reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis of brush biopsy samples to detect mRNAs of interest. We then developed a semi-quantitative approach to compare subject groups. RESULTS: We detected a signal for @entity49988 (PPT-A) mRNA as well as for @entity4756 receptors and @entity2282 in @entity1 with airways disease and normal subjects. We found a relative 10-fold increase in PPT-A mRNA in smokers with chronic @entity3617 , along with similar increases in mRNA for the inflammatory markers @entity2071 and @entity687 . In contrast, @entity2282 and NK1 @entity4756 receptor mRNA levels were not different between the groups. CONCLUSION: These findings imply that up-regulation of @entity4756 production by cells present in the airway epithelium contributes to the pathophysiology of chronic @entity3617 .

Pre-protachykinin-A mRNA is increased in the airway epithelium of smokers with chronic XXXX .

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['human', 'patients'] @entity3617 :: ('MESH:D001991', 'Disease') :: ['bronchitis'] @entity49988 :: ('MESH:C044206', 'Chemical') :: ['preprotachykinin A'] @entity2282 :: ('4311', 'Gene') :: ['NEP', 'neutral endopeptidase'] @entity2071 :: ('3383', 'Gene') :: ['intercellular adhesion molecule-1'] @entity687 :: ('3576', 'Gene') :: ['interleukin-8'] @entity4756 :: ('MESH:D015320', 'Chemical') :: ['Tachykinins', 'tachykinin', 'tachykinins']
@entity3617 :: (MESH:D001991,Disease) :: ['bronchitis']
