title: Regulation of airway inflammation and remodeling by muscarinic receptors: perspectives on anticholinergic therapy in asthma and COPD.
abstract: Acetylcholine is the primary parasympathetic neurotransmitter in the airways and an autocrine/paracrine secreted hormone from non-neuronal origins including inflammatory cells and airway structural cells. In addition to the well-known functions of acetylcholine in regulating bronchoconstriction and mucus secretion, it is increasingly evident that acetylcholine regulates inflammatory cell chemotaxis and activation, and also participates in signaling events leading to chronic airway wall remodeling that is associated with chronic obstructive airway diseases including asthma and COPD. As muscarinic receptors appear responsible for most of the pro-inflammatory and remodeling effects of acetylcholine, these findings have significant implications for anticholinergic therapy in asthma and COPD, which is selective for muscarinic receptors. Here, the regulatory role of acetylcholine in inflammation and remodeling in asthma and COPD will be discussed including the perspectives that these findings offer for anticholinergic therapy in these diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Groningen Research Institute for Asthma and COPD, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713AV Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Loes E M
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Kistemaker
authors.forename: Tjitske A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Oenema
authors.forename: Herman
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Meurs
authors.forename: Reinoud
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gosens
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic