Botulinum neurotoxin: the ugly duckling.
This review presents a brief account of the most significant biological effects and clinical applications of botulinum neurotoxins, in a way comprehensive even for casual readers who are not familiar with the subject. The most toxic known substances in botulinum neurotoxins are polypeptides naturally synthesized by bacteria of the genus Clostridium. These polypeptides inhibit acetylcholine release at neuromuscular junctions, thus causing muscle paralysis involving both somatic and autonomic innervation. There is substantial evidence that this muscle-paralyzing feature of botulinum neurotoxins is useful for their beneficial influence on more than 50 pathological conditions such as spastic paralysis, cerebral palsy, focal dystonia, essential tremor, headache, incontinence and a variety of cosmetic interventions. Injection of adequate quantities of botulinum toxins in spastic muscles is considered as a highly hopeful procedure for the treatment of people who suffer from dystonia, cerebral palsy or have experienced a stroke. So far, numerous and reliable studies have established the safety and efficacy of botulinum neurotoxins and advocate wider clinical therapeutic and cosmetic applications.
Department of Cell Biology and Biophysics, Faculty of Biology, N. & K. University of Athens, Athens, Greece. skoussou@biol.uoa.gr
Stauros
S
Koussoulakos
D000818:Animals; D023482:Bioterrorism; D001905:Botulinum Toxins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001906:Botulism / Q000209:etiology; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000188:drug therapy; D003357:Cosmetic Techniques / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D020821:Dystonic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000188:drug therapy; D009132:Muscles / Q000187:drug effects; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000187:drug effects; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010291:Paresis / Q000209:etiology; D020521:Stroke / Q000188:drug therapy; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects
D009498:Neurotoxins; D001905:Botulinum Toxins