TRPA1: An asthma target with a zing

Asthma therapy has advanced remarkably; however, a significant number of patients respond poorly to current interventions. Balestrini et al. (2021. J. Exp. Med. https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.20201637) advance the concept that sensory nerves control inflammation in asthma, demonstrating that a novel inhibitor of TRPA1, a nerve receptor for irritants and reactive endogenous mediators, suppresses inflammation and airway smooth muscle contraction in several preclinical species.