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Novel aspects in cutaneous biology of acetylcholine synthesis and acetylcholine receptors
Author(s) -
Kurzen Hjalmar,
Schallreuter Karin U.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
experimental dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.108
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1600-0625
pISSN - 0906-6705
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0625.2004.00258.x
Subject(s) - acetylcholine , paracrine signalling , autocrine signalling , cholinergic , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , endocrinology , keratinocyte , medicine , muscarinic acetylcholine receptor , receptor , cell culture , genetics
Extraneuronal acetylcholine (ACh) has been demonstrated to influence a plethora of cutaneous cell functions in an autocrine, paracrine and endocrine fashion. Through the differentiation‐specific expression of its different nicotinic (nACh‐R) and muscarinic (mACh‐R) receptors, ACh acts upon keratinocyte proliferation and migration, terminal differentiation and barrier formation, sweat and sebum secretion as well as microcirculation and angiogenesis. Only very recently it has been recognized that acetylcholinesterase, but not cholineacetyltransferase, activity is regulated by hydrogen peroxide. Considering that the outer layer of the human skin can be a target for UV‐generated H 2 O 2 in the millimolar range, this mechanism needs to be taken into account for the regulation of ACh homeostasis in skin biology. Consequently, ACh can accumulate, as shown, for example, in the depigmentation process in vitiligo. There is a highly regulated distribution of ACh‐R in human epidermis and adnexal structures, supporting previously observed effects of cholinergic compounds on keratinocyte biology. Most significantly, the regulated expression of ACh‐R in sebaceous glands advocates a role for ACh in sebum production and as a promoter of sebocyte differentiation, thus offering an explanation for skin diseases associated with altered sebum production after chronic nicotine exposure. So far, ACh‐induced sweat production has been thought to be under the exclusive control of mACh‐R. However, recently, the presence of both different nACh‐R and mACh‐R in myoepithelial and acinar cells of eccrine sweat glands has been documented, indicating a more complex regulation of sweat production and expulsion.