Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and cholinergic modulation in Myasthenia Gravis and neuroinflammation

J Neuroimmunol. 2008 Sep 15:201-202:121-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2008.05.022. Epub 2008 Aug 5.

Abstract

The cholinergic network affects various cellular functions including neurotransmission, and immune reactions. In Myasthenia Gravis (MG), diagnosis and symptomatic therapy are based on cholinergic modulation by acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEI). In Alzheimer's disease (AD) a neurodegenerative disorder associated with inflammatory pathology, cholinergic systems cell loss occurs early. Treatments with special AChEI enhance cholinergic transmission and may act as anti-inflammatory agent via immunocompetent cells expressing alpha-7 acetylcholine receptor (AChR). In Multiple Sclerosis (MS) an inflammatory T-cell-mediated disease, demyelination and neurodegeneration follow neuroinflammation. MS treatment includes anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory drugs. AChEI can induce cholinergic up-regulation with subsequent effect on neuroinflammation via alpha-7-AChR expressing cells. These effects are additional to the cognitive benefit induced by AChEI.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acetylcholine / metabolism*
  • Alzheimer Disease / drug therapy
  • Alzheimer Disease / immunology
  • Alzheimer Disease / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / drug therapy*
  • Inflammation / immunology
  • Inflammation / metabolism
  • Multiple Sclerosis / drug therapy
  • Multiple Sclerosis / immunology
  • Myasthenia Gravis / drug therapy*
  • Myasthenia Gravis / immunology
  • Myasthenia Gravis / metabolism

Substances

  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors
  • Acetylcholine