Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors as effector sites for present and future therapeutic applications: focus on non-neural cholinergic systems

Author： Oppitz Matthias Boss Andreas Drews Ulrich

Publisher： Informa Healthcare

ISSN： 1354-3776

Source： Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Patents, Vol.16, Iss.4, 2006-04, pp. : 481-491

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Abstract

This review summarises the expression and function of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChR) in the organism, and the therapeutic implications of recent patents on cholinergic agents. Aside from the well known therapeutic applications of parasympathomimetic and -lytic drugs for diseases of the heart, eye, circulation and airways, new possible fields for mAChR agonists and antagonists in clinical therapy have begun to emerge. In particular, the role of non-neural cholinergic mechanisms in tissue regeneration, development and even carcinogenesis has become increasingly studied by a number of research teams within the last decade. This review exemplifies and contrasts experimental findings of mAChR drug action, and discusses these with regard to patents from the past 4 years.