RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Perspectives on neuroinflammation contributing to chronic cough JF European Respiratory Journal JO Eur Respir J FD European Respiratory Society SP 2000758 DO 10.1183/13993003.00758-2020 VO 56 IS 4 A1 Alexandria K. Driessen A1 Anna-Claire Devlin A1 Fionnuala T. Lundy A1 S. Lorraine Martin A1 Gerard P. Sergeant A1 Stuart B. Mazzone A1 Lorcan P. McGarvey YR 2020 UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/56/4/2000758.abstract AB Chronic cough can be a troublesome clinical problem. Current thinking is that increased activity and/or enhanced sensitivity of the peripheral and central neural pathways mediates chronic cough via processes similar to those associated with the development of chronic pain. While inflammation is widely thought to be involved in the development of chronic cough, the true mechanisms causing altered neural activity and sensitisation remain largely unknown. In this back-to-basics perspective article we explore evidence that inflammation in chronic cough may, at least in part, involve neuroinflammation orchestrated by glial cells of the nervous system. We summarise the extensive evidence for the role of both peripheral and central glial cells in chronic pain, and hypothesise that the commonalities between pain and cough pathogenesis and clinical presentation warrant investigations into the neuroinflammatory mechanisms that contribute to chronic cough. We open the debate that glial cells may represent an underappreciated therapeutic target for controlling troublesome cough in disease.The mechanisms causing altered neural activity and sensitisation in chronic cough remain largely unknown. Neuroinflammation involving glial cells may contribute to cough pathogenesis, representing a potential novel therapeutic target. https://bit.ly/3fdbko4