Checks and balances on cholinergic signaling in brain and body function

Hermona Soreq*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

97 Scopus citations

Abstract

A century after the discovery of acetylcholine (ACh), we recognize both ACh receptors, transporters, and synthesizing and degrading enzymes and regulators of their expression as contributors to cognition, metabolism, and immunity. Recent discoveries indicate that pre- and post-transcriptional ACh signaling controllers coordinate the identity, functioning, dynamics, and brain-to-body communication of cholinergic cells. Checks and balances including epigenetic mechanisms, alternative splicing, and miRNAs may all expand or limit the diversity of these cholinergic components by consistently performing genome-related surveillance. This regulatory network enables homeostatic maintenance of brain-to-body ACh signaling as well as reactions to nicotine, Alzheimer's disease anticholinesterase therapeutics, and agricultural pesticides. Here I review recent reports on the functional implications of these controllers of cholinergic signaling in and out of the brain.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)448-458
Number of pages11
JournalTrends in Neurosciences
Volume38
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jul 2015

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 Elsevier Ltd.

Keywords

  • Acetylcholine signaling
  • MiRNA regulation
  • Noncoding SNPs
  • Post-transcriptional changes

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