The cholinergic system and cancer.
The finding that the cholinergic system may be present in non-neuromuscular cells and tissues was, at the beginning, not easily accepted by the scientific community (since 1970-1982). Today the entire set of cholinergic molecules and their functions in cell-to-cell communication, mediated by intracellular ion dynamics, is well-established. Nicotinic and muscarinic (nAChR, mAChR) are functionally present on different human cell types and build a part of an autocrine-proliferative network. In synthesis Ach via nAChR or mAChR appears to be involved in the regulation of vital cell functions: proliferation, differentiation, organization of the cytoskeleton, cell-cell contact, ciliary activity, migration, secretion and absorption of ions, water and mucus. Understanding the role of the non-neuronal cholinergic system in different diseases (i.e. inflammation and or cancer) needs to be clarified in more detail, in order to optimize a future targeted-therapy, as well as precautions in the design of interventional drugs.
Paleari
Laura
L
Lung Cancer Unit, National Cancer Research Institute, Genova, Italy. laura.paleari@istge.it
Grozio
Alessia
A
Cesario
Alfredo
A
Russo
Patrizia
P
D000818:Animals; D005089:Exocytosis; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic / Q000378:metabolism*; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000378:metabolism*
D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic