Role of cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway in regulating host response and its interventional strategy for inflammatory diseases.
The cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway (CAP) is a neurophysiological mechanism that regulates the immune system. The CAP inhibits inflammation by suppressing cytokine synthesis via release of acetylcholine in organs of the reticuloendothelial system, including the lungs, spleen, liver, kidneys and gastrointestinal tract. Acetylcholine can interact with alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (alpha7 nAchR) expressed by macrophages and other cytokine producing cells, down-regulate pro-inflammatory cytokine synthesis and prevent tissue damage. Herein is a review of the neurophysiological mechanism in which the CAP regulates inflammatory response, as well as its potential interventional strategy for inflammatory diseases.
Wang
Da-wei
DW
Emergency Department, General Hospital of Beijing Command, Beijing, China.
Zhou
Rong-bin
RB
Yao
Yong-ming
YM
D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000276:immunology; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000276:immunology; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic / Q000502:physiology; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000502:physiology; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000276:immunology; D018805:Sepsis / Q000276:immunology; D012771:Shock, Hemorrhagic / Q000276:immunology; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology / Q000294:innervation; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000502:physiology*; D064569:alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor
C579167:Chrna7 protein, human; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; D064569:alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor; D000109:Acetylcholine