Novel information on the non-neuronal cholinergic system in orthopedics provides new possible treatment strategies for inflammatory and degenerative diseases

• Anti-cholinergic agents are used in thetreatment of several pathological conditions.Therapy regimens aimed at up-regulatingcholinergic functions, such as treatment withacetylcholinesterase inhibitors, are also currentlyprescribed. It is now known that not onlyis there a neuronal cholinergic system but alsoa non-neuronal cholinergic system in variousparts of the body. Therefore, interference withthe effects of acetylcholine (ACh) broughtabout by the local production and release ofACh should also be considered. Locally producedACh may have proliferative, angiogenic,wound-healing, and immunomodulatory functions.Interestingly, cholinergic stimulationmay lead to anti-inflammatory effects. Withinthis review, new findings for the locomotorsystem of a more widespread non-neuronalcholinergic system than previously expectedwill be discussed in relation to possible newtreatment strategies. The conditions discussedare painful and degenerative tendon disease(tendinopathy/tendinosis), rheumatoid arthritis,and osteoarthritis.

Keyword

acetylcholine

tendinosis

tendinopathy

rheumatoid arthritis

osteoarthritis

MEDICINE

MEDICIN

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)