Author(s): ZHOU Guowu, WANG Xuezuo, TIAN Yeping
Pages: 2794-2797
Year: 2009 Issue:  14
Journal: Biomagnetism
Keyword:  α7nAChR; anti-inflammatory effect; pro-inflammatory cytokine; agonist;
Abstract: Inflammatory reaction mediated by pro-inflammatory cytokines is a protective mechanism of organism against infection and injury. Appropriate production of pro-inflammatory cytokines is favorable to counteracting the invasion of pathogens and promoting tissue restoration, but excessive pro-inflammatory cytokines lead to tissue damages. Therefore, it is crucial to maintain the equipoise of inflammatory reactions. Humor mechanism had been thought to be the single anti-inflammation pathway until the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway (CAP) was demonstrated in recent years. Numerous studies indicate that the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR) is the key member in CAP. It will be introduced that the structure, distribution and anti-inflammatory effects of α7nAChR as well as its agonists and clinical application investigations in this review.