title: Stimulation of the Nonneuronal Cholinergic System by Highly Diluted Acetylcholine in Keratinocytes.
abstract: The physiological effects of acetylcholine on keratinocytes depend on the presence of nicotinic and muscarinic receptors. The role of nonneuronal acetylcholine in keratinocytes could have important clinical implications for patients with various skin disorders such as nonhealing wounds. In order to evaluate the efficacy of highly diluted acetylcholine solutions obtained by sequential kinetic activation, we aimed to investigate the effects of these solutions on normal human keratinocytes. Two different concentrations (10 fg/mL and 1 pg/mL) and formulations (kinetically activated and nonkinetically activated) of acetylcholine were used to verify keratinocyte viability, proliferation, and migration and the intracellular pathways involved using MTT, crystal violet, wound healing, and Western blot compared to 147 ng/mL acetylcholine. The activated formulations (1 pg/mL and 10 fg/mL) revealed a significant capacity to increase migration, cell viability, and cell proliferation compared to 147 ng/mL acetylcholine, and these effects were more evident after a single administration. Sequential kinetic activation resulted in a statistically significant decrease in reactive oxygen species production accompanied by an increase in mitochondrial membrane potential and a decrease in oxygen consumption compared to 147 ng/mL acetylcholine. The M1 muscarinic receptor was involved in these effects. Finally, the involvement of ERK/mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) and KI67 confirmed the effectiveness of the single treatment on cell proliferation. The intracellular pathways of calcium were investigated as well. Our results indicate for the first time that highly diluted and kinetically activated acetylcholine seems to play an active role in an in vitro model of wound healing. Moreover, the administration of acetylcholine within the physiological range may not only be effective but is also likely to be safe.
authors.affiliation: Physiology Laboratory, Department of Translational Medicine, UPO, Novara, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Uberti
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bardelli
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Morsanuto
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ghirlanda
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cochis
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Molinari
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000187:drug effects; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects; D000070634:Non-Neuronal Cholinergic System / Q000187:drug effects*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000187:drug effects; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D012996:Solutions
chemical_list: D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic; D012996:Solutions; D000109:Acetylcholine