Acute pandysautonomia is an idiopathic, acute or subacute autonomic neuropathy, which diffusely affects pre- and post-synaptic, and sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves. The recent discovery of serum autoantibodies against the nicotinic acethylcholine receptor (nAChR) on autonomic ganglia has led to a better understanding of its pathogenesis as well as the emergence of a new disease entity named autoimmune autonomic ganglionopathy (AAG). Based on the detection of these antibodies in various dysautonomic conditions, AAG is considered a broad-spectrum disease entity that includes acute pandysautonomia as well as secondary autonomic neuropathy, restricted forms of dysautonomia (postural tachycardia syndrome and chronic intestinal pseudoobstruction), and chronic dysautonomia, mimicking pure autonomic failure. Reproduction of experimental AAG animals by active immunization with peptides derived from ganglionic nAChR or passive transfer of ganglionic nAChR antibodies strongly indicates that ganglionic nAChR antibodies are pathogenic in AAG development. There are no controlled treatment trials for AAG, and its optimal therapy remains uncertain. Recent reports suggest that combined immunotherapies using immunosuppressive agents with plasma exchange or intravenous immunoglobulin are effective for some intractable cases. An optimal protocol of combined immunotherapies should be established in controlled clinical trials in the future.
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Dev Neurobiol
January 2025
Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
Acetylcholine (ACh), a vital neurotransmitter for both the peripheral (PNS) and central nervous systems (CNS), signals through nicotinic ACh receptors (nAChRs) and muscarinic ACh receptors (mAChR). Here, we explore the expression patterns of three nAChR subunits, chrna3, chrnb4, and chrna5, which are located in an evolutionary conserved cluster. This close genomic positioning, in a range of vertebrates, may indicate co-functionality and/or co-expression.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe vagus nerves are important carriers of sensory information from the viscera to the central nervous system. Emerging evidence suggests that sensory signaling through the right, but not the left, vagus nerve evokes striatal dopamine release and reinforces appetitive behaviors. However, the extent to which differential gene expression within vagal sensory neurons contributes to this asymmetric reward-related signaling remains unknown.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Biol Macromol
November 2024
Guangxi Key Laboratory of Special Biomedicine, School of Medicine, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China. Electronic address:
α3β4, a vital subtype of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), is widely distributed in the brain, ganglia, and adrenal glands, associated with addiction and neurological diseases. However, the lack of specific imaging tools for α3β4 nAChRs has hindered the investigation of their tissue distribution and functions. [D11A]LvIA, a peptide derived from marine cone snails, demonstrates high affinity and potency for α3β4 nAChRs, making it a valuable pharmacological tool for studying this receptor subtype.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPest Manag Sci
August 2024
Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, Kindai University, Nara, Japan.
J Cereb Blood Flow Metab
August 2024
Department of Anesthesiology, Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
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