Su Y, Xu J, Zhu Z, Chin J, Xu L, Yu H, Nudell V, Dash B, Moya EA, Ye L, Nimmerjahn A, Sun X (2024) Brainstem Dbh+ neurons control allergen-induced airway hyperreactivity. Nature 631(8021):601-609. doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-07608-5 PMID: 38987587
Objective: To map a full allergen circuit from the lung to the brainstem and back to the lung. Repeated exposure of mice to inhaled allergen activated the nuclei of solitary tract (nTS) neurons in a mast cell-, interleukin-4 (IL-4)- and vagal nerve-dependent manner.
Summary: Ablation or chemogenetic inactivation of Dbh+nTS neurons blunted hyperreactivity whereas chemogenetic activation promoted it. Viral tracing indicated that Dbh+nTS neurons project to the nucleus ambiguous (NA) and that NA neurons are necessary and sufficient to relay allergen signals to postganglionic neurons that directly drive airway constriction. Delivery of noradrenaline antagonists to the NA blunted hyperreactivity, suggesting noradrenaline as the transmitter between Dbh+nTS and NA.
Usage: To determine whether Dbh+nTS neurons are essential for hyperreactivity chemical ablation, anti-dopamine beta-hydroxylase antibody conjugated to saporin (Anti-DBH-SAP, IT-03), shown to be specific for DBH+neurons, was injected into the nTS.
Related Products: Anti-DBH-SAP (Cat. #IT-03)