title: Acetylcholinesterase inhibitor is a potentially useful therapeutic agent for nicotine-induced periodontal disease.
abstract: Many cell types possess the essential components for a non-neuronal cholinergic system. These components include acetylcholine, choline acetyltransferase, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Studies have indicated that AChE may be crucial for various types of apoptosis and that tobacco smoking augments the severity of periodontal disease. We hypothesize that there is a non-neuronal cholinergic system in periodontal tissue that is activated by excess nicotine, which increases expression of AChE, thus increasing apoptosis of periodontal cells. If so, the introduction of an AChE inhibitor should decrease periodontal cell apoptosis, lessening periodontal disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Dentistry, School of Stomatology, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, PR China.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ge
authors.forename: Xiao Fang
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Xiao Jing
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D009538:Nicotine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010519:Periodontium / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists; D009538:Nicotine