Airway nerves and protein phosphatases

Much attention has focused on the important role played by phosphatases in the control of gene transcription, cell differentiation and memory regulati on. It is also clear that phosphatases may regulate a number of biochemical pathways which can modulate cellular function. Of particular interest is t he role of phosphatases in the control of neuronal function. Alterations in neuronal function may contributed to the heightened airways responsiveness observed in asthma to a number of physiological stimuli including distille d water, sulfur dioxide, metabisulfite, hypertonic saline, exercise, allerg ens, viruses and cold air. An understanding of the mechanisms which regulat e the function of sensory nerves could have important clinical implications . In this review we will highlight a number of studies that have investigat ed the role of phosphatases in the regulation of airway nerve function. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.