# The Neural Mechanism of Respiratory Allergies and Infections

> **NIH NIH R01** · WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $517,126

## Abstract

Abstract
 Allergic rhinitis is the most common mucosal allergy. Its cardinal symptoms include excessive sneezing
and rhinorrhea, which severely impact our life quality and productivity. Although antihistamines effectively
relieved sneezing induced by intermittent mild allergic rhinitis, they are ineffective against persistent
moderate/severe allergic rhinitis. The development of new drugs for alleviating allergic sneezing is hindered by
a lack of information about the principal nasal sensory neurons that mediate sneezing and their interactions with
immune cells. In this proposal, we hypothesize that a highly restricted population of nasal sensory neurons
defined by the expression of MrgprC11 detect mast cell mediators in allergic rhinitis and trigger the sneezing
reflex. In Aim 1, we will characterize the innervation pattern of MrgprC11-expressing fibers in the nasal mucosa
and examine their pathological changes under allergic rhinitis using genetic labeling and axonal tracing
approaches. Furthermore, we will determine their physiological responses to a variety of sneeze-inducing
molecules using a novel ex vivo calcium-imaging tool. These studies will provide important information on the
initial detection of nasal irritants and transduction of sneezing signals. In Aim 2, we will define the role of
MrgprC11+ fibers in acute sneezing. We will determine whether ablation of MrgprC11+ neurons attenuates
sneezing responses to a variety of nasal irritants and whether selective activation of MrgprC11+ sensory fibers
in the nasal mucosa evokes sneezing. These studies will establish whether MrgprC11+ sensory fibers are
required for sneezing induced by different sensory stimuli. In Aim 3, we will investigate the neuro-immune
interactions between MrgprC11+ nasal sensory fibers and mast cells in allergic rhinitis. We will test whether
degranulated mast cells activate MrgprC11+ nasal sensory fibers to induce sneezing in allergic rhinitis.
Furthermore, we will determine whether pharmacological silencing of MrgprC11+ sensory fibers is a feasible
therapeutic strategy to control sneezing associated with allergic rhinitis. These studies will not only advance our
understanding of the neuro-immune interactions that trigger sneezing, but also provide a novel neuronal target
for controlling nasal allergic symptoms.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10279722
- **Project number:** 1R01AI163146-01
- **Recipient organization:** WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Qin Liu
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $517,126
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-05-14 → 2026-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10279722

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10279722, The Neural Mechanism of Respiratory Allergies and Infections (1R01AI163146-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10279722. Licensed CC0.

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