Imperial, Hull: Research on coughing points the way to treatments for persistent coughs

Research lead

Researchers from Imperial College London and the University of Hull have identified the reaction inside the lungs that can trigger coughing on exposure to particular irritants in the air. They suggest that their findings may ultimately lead to the development of new treatments for chronic coughing.

Treatment options are limited for people with chronic coughing; a recent study concluded that over-the-counter remedies are ineffective and there is increasing concern about the safety of these therapies in children.

The research indicates how coughing can be triggered when a person is exposed to certain irritants in the air. It shows that the irritants can switch on receptor proteins called TRPA1 on the surface of nerve endings in the lungs. This switches on sensory nerves, which then trigger a cough reflex.

The researchers say coughing could potentially be treated by blocking TRPA1 receptors, to stop irritants in the air from setting off this chain reaction.

One of the researchers, Maria Belvisi, from the National Heart and Lung Institute at Imperial College London, said, “Now that we think we have cracked the mechanism, we can start investigating whether we can stop people from coughing excessively by blocking the receptor protein that triggers it.”