Mechanisms of citric acid-induced bronchoconstriction

In asthma patients, microaspiration of acid into the lower airways (ie, airway acidification) causes such respiratory responses as cough and bronchoconstriction. The mechanism of bronchoconstriction induced by airway acidification is unknown, although evidence is emerging that increasing proton concentrations in airway tissues can activate a subpopulation of primary sensory neurons, so-called capsaicin-sensitive primary sensory neurons, that...