Research Progress of cAMP/Epac Signaling Pathway Regulating Chronic Cough and Interventive Effect of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Chronic cough is a common respiratory disease, which is recurrent and lingering. Chronic airway inflammation, increased sensitivity of cough nerve pathway and inflammatory pain are the main pathologic basis. Cyclic adenosine monophosphate(cAMP)/exchange protein activated by cAMP(Epac) signal network takes part in airway inflammation(especially airway neurogenic inflammation), increased sensitivity of cough nerve and inflammatory pain. In this paper, the regulation of airway inflammation, sensitivity of cough pathway and inflammatory pain by cAMP/Epac signaling pathway and intervention effect of traditional Chinese medicine in recent years were reviewed, which provided a theoretical basis for the research of clinical treatment of chronic cough and the development of cough medicine.