Epithelial-smooth muscle cooperation is needed for brain natriuretic peptide-dependent bronchorelaxant activity

Tracheal microenvironment, ANP metabolism and airway tone

“…Benefits of pulmonary drug delivery include increased local therapeutic response and decreased redistribution of the inhaled agents in the circulation, which is directly related to the side effects [ 8 ]. Recent advances emphasize that the therapeutic effect of inhaled bronchodilators is not only determined by their action on airway smooth muscles, but also influenced greatly by other components of the airway microenvironment, such as the epithelium [ 9 ] and tracheal chondrocytes [ 10 ]. The airway microenvironmental regulatory molecules are expressed in tracheal chondrocytes, epithelium and tracheal smooth muscles and regulate the metabolism of ANP.…”