Chronic cough is a common troublesome symptom which has a global prevalence of approximately 10%, but with wide variations across continents. Patients with refractory and unexplained chronic cough (RCC/UCC) often exhibit dysregulated vagal pathways, necessitating a neuronal biomarker for targeted treatment. ATP, involved in the ATP/P2X3 pathway, may serve as a potential biomarker due to its role in the cough reflex. The study aims to discover if ATP production by the airway epithelium is greater in RCC/UCC patients compared with healthy controls, if the epithelium is a source of ATP, whether gene and protein expression related to ATP production differs between these groups and whether ATP release is triggered by mechanical and chemical stimulation. Additionally, the study seeks to determine if biomarker gene expression signatures can differentiate RCC/UCC patients from healthy controls.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
30
Bronchoscopy will be performed in patients with refractory or unexplained chronic cough and healthy controls.
Imran Satia
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
RECRUITINGDifference in expressed genes
Expression of genes involved in intracellular ATP production, transport, extracellular metabolism in the airway epithelium will be compared in both RCC/UCC and healthy controls.
Time frame: At baseline
Difference Immune Cells and Cytokines
Investigate differences in the levels of neuroinflammatory mediators and immune cells from the respiratory airways and distal alveoli.
Time frame: 12 months
Gene Expression
To compare the differences in RCC/UCC and healthy control in gene expression profiling in bronchial biopsies (sub-epithelial dominant).
Time frame: At baseline
Difference in Nerve Morphology
Investigate differences in nerve length, nerve branch points, nerves expressive P2X3 receptors on airway sensory nerves expressing P2X3 receptor in RCC/UCC compared with healthy controls.
Time frame: baseline
Difference in ATP release
ATP release from the cultured bronchial epithelial cells (BEC) taken from RCC/UCC and healthy controls after exposure to dynamic mechanical stretch and environmental exposures (cigarette smoke and NO2).
Time frame: 5,15,30 minutes
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