# Neuroimmune interactions for laryngeal sensorimotor neuropathy in postviral influenza infection

> **NIH NIH F32** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO · 2023 · $69,080

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
The larynx is richly innervated with nerves, forming neuroimmune niches that constitute the basis for
bidirectional interactions in mucosal defense and physiology. Idiopathic sensorimotor abnormalities of the
larynx, such as acute vocal fold paralysis and chronic hypersensitivity (chronic cough, episodic laryngospasm)
are attributed to upper respiratory tract infections with a viral etiology. However, a causal link for viral-induced
laryngeal pathophysiology remains tenuous. In this application, I will employ an established model of influenza
A virus (IAV) infection to interrogate laryngeal mucosal remodeling and map afferent/efferent neural
circuits/cells in naïve and virus infected tissues. I will investigate the central hypothesis that viral infection of the
larynx will activate neurosensory cells, remodel both afferent and efferent nerves, contributing to mucosal
inflammation and hypersensitivity. I will test this hypothesis utilizing a combination of mouse genetics, whole
tissue clearing and imaging, single-cell transcriptomics and live animal functional testing. We anticipate that
these activated neural inflammatory signals are detected via a unique population of ASCL1+ neuroendocrine
and CHAT+ cells that drive a neurosensory-immune circuit for laryngeal neuropathy. Together, these
experiments are expected to ascertain neural sensorimotor circuits and reveal neuroimmune interactions for
coordinating repair pathways following viral-induced mucosal inflammation. We expect findings will guide the
field in new directions for innovating treatments for laryngeal and vocal fold inflammatory diseases and
sensorimotor neuropathies.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10827254
- **Project number:** 1F32DC021634-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO
- **Principal Investigator:** Alexander G Foote
- **Activity code:** F32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $69,080
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2023-08-21 → 2026-08-20

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10827254

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10827254, Neuroimmune interactions for laryngeal sensorimotor neuropathy in postviral influenza infection (1F32DC021634-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10827254. Licensed CC0.

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