title: Botulinum toxin, Quo Vadis?
abstract: Botulinum toxin (BTX), derived from the exotoxin of Clostridium botulinum, cleaves Soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor-Attachment protein REceptor (SNARE) proteins, causing chemodenervation of cholinergic neurons. BTX also inhibits exocytosis of vesicles containing norepinephrine, glutamate, substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and inhibits expression of the vanilloid receptor. Clinical applications of BTX, which include the treatment of overactive skeletal and smooth muscles, hypersecretory and painful disorders, have increased exponentially since it was first used clinically to treat strabismus more than two decades ago. In this editorial, we discuss reports of new therapeutic indications of BTX, and propose new areas for research.
authors.forename: Erle C H
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Raymond C S
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Seet
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018726:Anti-Dyskinesia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy; D001905:Botulinum Toxins / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D004700:Endocrine System Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D015187:Lipectomy / Q000379:methods; D013961:Thyroid Gland; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D018726:Anti-Dyskinesia Agents; D001905:Botulinum Toxins