UCSF researchers discovered rare cells responsible for sensing water and acid in the upper airway, initiating the coughing reflex.
UCSF researchers identified rare laryngeal and tracheal neuroendocrine cells responsible for sensing water and acid in the upper airway, initiating the coughing reflex. This discovery could lead to interventions for preventing pneumonia, treating chronic cough, and improving understanding of diminishing coughing reflexes with aging and disease. The cells release chemical messengers that activate nerves leading to the brain.
April 18, 2024
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