Abstract
The cholinergic network affects various cellular functions including neurotransmission, and immune reactions. In Myasthenia Gravis (MG), diagnosis and symptomatic therapy are based on cholinergic modulation by acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEI). In Alzheimer's disease (AD) a neurodegenerative disorder associated with inflammatory pathology, cholinergic systems cell loss occurs early. Treatments with special AChEI enhance cholinergic transmission and may act as anti-inflammatory agent via immunocompetent cells expressing α-7 acetylcholine receptor (AChR). In Multiple Sclerosis (MS) an inflammatory T-cell-mediated disease, demyelination and neurodegeneration follow neuroinflammation. MS treatment includes anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory drugs. AChEI can induce cholinergic up-regulation with subsequent effect on neuroinflammation via α-7-AChR expressing cells. These effects are additional to the cognitive benefit induced by AChEI.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 121-127 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Journal of Neuroimmunology |
| Volume | 201-202 |
| Issue number | C |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 15 Sep 2008 |
Keywords
- Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors
- Alzheimer's disease
- Inflammation
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Myasthenia Gravis
- α-7-Acetylcholine receptor
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Immunology and Allergy
- Immunology
- Neurology
- Clinical Neurology
