Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Cutaneous Cholinergic System

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Sensing the Environment: Regulation of Local and Global Homeostasis by the Skin's Neuroendocrine System

Part of the book series: Advances in Anatomy, Embryology and Cell Biology ((ADVSANAT,volume 212))

  • 745 Accesses

Abstract

Acetylcholine acts via nicotinic or muscarinic receptors. There are several subtypes of nicotinic receptors that are built of pentamers of at least 17 (α1–α10, β1–β4, γ, δ, ε) subunits (Wu and Lukas 2011). Several subunits of the same type may be present in any given receptor type (e.g., α1 and α5). Nicotinic receptors signal by forming ligand-regulated cation channels. There are five subtypes of muscarinic receptors (M1–M5) that act through G-protein-coupled signaling (Graef et al. 2011). Acetylcholine is synthesized by choline acetyltransferase from acetyl coenzyme A and choline. Acetylcholinesterase degrades acetylcholine to acetate and choline. Human keratinocytes synthesize, secrete, and degrade acetylcholine. Choline acetyltransferase is present in all layers of human epidermis, while acetylcholinesterase is present only in basal keratinocytes (Grando et al. 1993). The role of cholinergic system in the skin has been reviewed extensively by Grando and coworkers (2006). The role of acetylcholine-cholinergic receptor system in the skin, which among others regulates the function of eccrine glands, is well known (Fitzpatrick et al. 1993). However, the exclusive role of muscarinic system in sweat glands was challenged by finding nicotinic receptors in myoepithelial and acinar cells of those glands (Kurzen and Schallreuter 2004).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Arredondo J, Nguyen VT, Chernyavsky AI, Bercovich D, Orr-Urtreger A, Kummer W, Lips K, Vetter DE, Grando SA (2002) Central role of alpha7 nicotinic receptor in differentiation of the stratified squamous epithelium. J Cell Biol 159:325–336

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Arredondo J, Hall LL, Ndoye A, Chernyavsky AI, Jolkovsky DL, Grando SA (2003) Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors regulating cell cycle progression are expressed in human gingival keratinocytes. J Periodontal Res 38:79–89

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Buchli R, Ndoye A, Arredondo J, Webber RJ, Grando SA (2001) Identification and characterization of muscarinic acetylcholine receptor subtypes expressed in human skin melanocytes. Mol Cell Biochem 228:57–72

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chernyavsky AI, Arredondo J, Marubio LM, Grando SA (2004a) Differential regulation of keratinocyte chemokinesis and chemotaxis through distinct nicotinic receptor subtypes. J Cell Sci 117:5665–5679

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chernyavsky AI, Arredondo J, Wess J, Karlsson E, Grando SA (2004b) Novel signaling pathways mediating reciprocal control of keratinocyte migration and wound epithelialization through M3 and M4 muscarinic receptors. J Cell Biol 166:261–272

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chernyavsky AI, Arredondo J, Piser T, Karlsson E, Grando SA (2008) Differential coupling of M1 muscarinic and alpha7 nicotinic receptors to inhibition of pemphigus acantholysis. J Biol Chem 283:3401–3408

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fischer J, Bouadjar B, Heilig R, Huber M, Lefevre C, Jobard F, Macari F, Bakija-Konsuo A, Ait-Belkacem F, Weissenbach J, Lathrop M, Hohl D, Prud’homme JF (2001) Mutations in the gene encoding SLURP-1 in Mal de Meleda. Hum Mol Genet 10:875–880

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fitzpatrick TB, Wolff K, Freedberg IM, Austen KF (1993) Dermatology in general medicine. McGraw Hill, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Graef S, Schonknecht P, Sabri O, Hegerl U (2011) Cholinergic receptor subtypes and their role in cognition, emotion, and vigilance control: an overview of preclinical and clinical findings. Psychopharmacol (Berl) 215:205–229

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Grando SA (1997) Biological functions of keratinocyte cholinergic receptors. J Investig Dermatol Symp Proc 2:41–48

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Grando SA (2006) Cholinergic control of epidermal cohesion. Exp Dermatol 15:265–282

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Grando SA, Kist DA, Qi M, Dahl MV (1993) Human keratinocytes synthesize, secrete, and degrade acetylcholine. J Invest Dermatol 101:32–36

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Grando SA, Zelickson BD, Kist DA, Weinshenker D, Bigliardi PL, Wendelschafer-Crabb G, Kennedy WR, Dahl MV (1995) Keratinocyte muscarinic acetylcholine receptors: immunolocalization and partial characterization. J Invest Dermatol 104:95–100

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Grando SA, Horton RM, Mauro TM, Kist DA, Lee TX, Dahl MV (1996) Activation of keratinocyte nicotinic cholinergic receptors stimulates calcium influx and enhances cell differentiation. J Invest Dermatol 107:412–418

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Grando SA, Pittelkow MR, Schallreuter KU (2006) Adrenergic and cholinergic control in the biology of epidermis: physiological and clinical significance. J Invest Dermatol 126:1948–1965

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hasse S, Chernyavsky AI, Grando SA, Paus R (2007) The M4 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor plays a key role in the control of murine hair follicle cycling and pigmentation. Life Sci 80:2248–2252

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Iyengar B (1989) Modulation of melanocytic activity by acetylcholine. Acta Anat (Basel) 136:139–141

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kurzen H, Schallreuter KU (2004) Novel aspects in cutaneous biology of acetylcholine synthesis and acetylcholine receptors. Exp Dermatol 13(Suppl 4):27–30

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nguyen VT, Ndoye A, Grando SA (2000) Novel human alpha9 acetylcholine receptor regulating keratinocyte adhesion is targeted by Pemphigus vulgaris autoimmunity. Am J Pathol 157:1377–1391

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nguyen VT, Arredondo J, Chernyavsky AI, Kitajima Y, Grando SA (2003) Keratinocyte acetylcholine receptors regulate cell adhesion. Life Sci 72:2081–2085

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tayebati SK, El-Assouad D, Ricci A, Amenta F (2002) Immunochemical and immunocytochemical characterization of cholinergic markers in human peripheral blood lymphocytes. J Neuroimmunol 132:147–155

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tsuji H, Okamoto K, Matsuzaka Y, Iizuka H, Tamiya G, Inoko H (2003) SLURP-2, a novel member of the human Ly-6 superfamily that is up-regulated in psoriasis vulgaris. Genomics 81:26–33

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wallstrom M, Sand L, Nilsson F, Hirsch JM (1999) The long-term effect of nicotine on the oral mucosa. Addiction 94:417–423

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wessler I, Reinheimer T, Kilbinger H, Bittinger F, Kirkpatrick CJ, Saloga J, Knop J (2003) Increased acetylcholine levels in skin biopsies of patients with atopic dermatitis. Life Sci 72:2169–2172

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wu J, Lukas RJ (2011) Naturally-expressed nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subtypes. Biochem Pharmacol 82:800–807

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, and Department of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA

    Andrzej T. Slominski

  2. Department of Histology, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland

    Michal A. Zmijewski

  3. Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, Memphis, TN, USA

    Cezary Skobowiat & Blazej Zbytek

  4. University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA

    Radomir M. Slominski

  5. Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland

    Radomir M. Slominski

  6. Department of Pharmacology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA

    Jeffery D. Steketee

Authors
  1. Andrzej T. Slominski
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Michal A. Zmijewski
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Cezary Skobowiat
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Blazej Zbytek
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Radomir M. Slominski
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Jeffery D. Steketee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Andrzej T. Slominski .

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2012 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Slominski, A.T., Zmijewski, M.A., Skobowiat, C., Zbytek, B., Slominski, R.M., Steketee, J.D. (2012). Cutaneous Cholinergic System. In: Sensing the Environment: Regulation of Local and Global Homeostasis by the Skin's Neuroendocrine System. Advances in Anatomy, Embryology and Cell Biology, vol 212. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-19683-6_4

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-19683-6_4

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-19682-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-19683-6

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation