Unlike the receptors in your nose, which are located in the membranes of nerve cells, the ones in your lungs are in the membranes of neuroendocrine cells. Instead of sending nerve impulses to your brain that allow it to "perceive" the acrid smell of a burning cigarette somewhere in the vicinity, they trigger the flask-shaped neuroendocrine cells to dump hormones that make your airways constrict.
A diagram of the airway lining suggests how the pulmonary neuroendocrine cells (red) trigger a response to inhaled chemicals. When a chemical (orange triangle) docks on a receptor (black) they dump secretory chemicals (thin orange arrows), which have an immediate but localized effect on muscles (blue) and nerves (pink), possibly triggering responses such as a cough.
The cells might be responsible for the chemical hypersensitivity that characterizes respiratory diseases, such chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and asthma. Patients with these diseases are told to avoid traffic fumes, pungent odors, perfumes and similar irritants, which can trigger airway constriction and breathing difficulties.
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ScienceDaily
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Publicatie:
Xiaoling Gu, et al.: Volatile-Sensing Functions for Pulmonary Neuroendocrine Cells
