Acetylcholine and the alpha 7 nicotinic receptor: a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of periodontal disease?

作者：Zoheir Noha; Lappin David F; Nile Christopher J^*

来源：Inflammation Research, 2012, 61(9): 915-926.

DOI：10.1007/s00011-012-0513-z

• Periodontal disease
• Acetylcholine
• Alpha 7 nicotinic receptor
• Inflammation

The aim of this review is to examine the evidence for a functional cholinergic system operating within the periodontium and determine the evidence for its role in periodontal immunity. %26lt;br%26gt;Acetylcholine can influence the immune system via the %26apos;cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway%26apos;. This pathway is mediated by the vagus nerve which releases acetylcholine to interact with the alpha 7 subunit of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (alpha 7nAChR) on proximate immuno-regulatory cells. Activation of the alpha 7nAChR on these cells leads to down-regulated expression of pro-inflammatory mediators and thus regulates localised inflammatory responses. The role of the vagus nerve in periodontal pathophysiology is currently unknown. However, non-neuronal cells can also release acetylcholine and express the alpha 7nAChR; these include keratinocytes, fibroblasts, T cells, B cells and macrophages. Therefore, by both autocrine and paracrine methods non-neuronal acetylcholine can also be hypothesised to modulate the localised immune response. %26lt;br%26gt;A Pubmed database search was performed for studies providing evidence for a functional cholinergic system operating in the periodontium. In addition, literature on the role of the %26apos;cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway%26apos; in modulating the immune response was extrapolated to hypothesise that similar mechanisms of immune regulation occur within the periodontium. %26lt;br%26gt;The evidence suggests a functional non-neuronal %26apos;cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway%26apos; may operate in the periodontium and that this may be targeted therapeutically to treat periodontal disease.

• 出版日期2012-9