Anatomy and Cell Biology Publications

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-12-2015

Issue

6

Journal

CELL REPORTS

Volume

11

First Page

934

Last Page

943

URL with Digital Object Identifier

10.1016/j.celrep.2015.04.012

Abstract

Obesity is a major risk factor for asthma, which is characterized by airway hyperreactivity (AHR). In obesity-associated asthma, AHR may be regulated by non-T(H)2 mechanisms. We hypothesized that airway reactivity is regulated by insulin in the CNS, and that the high levels of insulin associated with obesity contribute to AHR. We found that intracerebroventricular (ICV)-injected insulin increases airway reactivity in wild-type, but not in vesicle acetylcholine transporter knockdown (VAChT KDHOM-/-), mice. Either neutralization of central insulin or inhibition of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) normalized airway reactivity in hyperinsulinemic obese mice. These effects were mediated by insulin in cholinergic nerves located at the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus (DMV) and nucleus ambiguus (NA), which convey parasympathetic outflow to the lungs. We propose that increased insulin-induced activation of ERK in parasympathetic pre-ganglionic nerves contributes to AHR in obese mice, suggesting a drug-treatable link between obesity and asthma.

Find in your library

Share

COinS