Airway inflammation and tachykinins: prospects for the development of tachykinin receptor antagonists

The tachykinins substance P and neurokinin A are contained within sensory a irway nerves. Immune cells form an additional source of tachykinins in infl amed airways. Elevated levels of tachykinins have been recovered from the a irways of patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. A irway inflammation leads to an upregulation of tachykinin NK1 and NK2 recep tors. Preclinical studies have indicated a role for the tachykinin NK1, NK2 and NK3 receptors in bronchoconstriction, airway hyperresponsiveness and a irway inflammation caused by allergic and nonallergic stimuli. Compounds th at are able to block two or three tachykinin receptors hold promise for the treatment of airways diseases such as asthma and/or chronic obstructive pu lmonary disease. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.