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. 2012 Mar;5(1):21-4.
doi: 10.2478/v10102-012-0004-7.

Acetylcholine and an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor neostigmine can aggravate tularemia progress in BALB/c mice

Miroslav Pohanka  1 , Oto Pavlis, Hana Svobodova, Jiri Pikula
Affiliations

Acetylcholine and an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor neostigmine can aggravate tularemia progress in BALB/c mice

Miroslav Pohanka et al. Interdiscip Toxicol. 2012 Mar.

Abstract

The present experiment was aimed at assessing the application of neostigmine, an acetylcholinesterase (AChE) pseudo-irreversible inhibitor with poor penetration through the hematoencephalitic barrier, and the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh). The experiment was done to evaluate their ability to modulate an infectious disease: tularemia. Mice infected with Franciselle tularensis and exposed to either ACh or neostigmine had a higher mortality and spleen bacterial burden when compared to infected mice exposed to saline solution only. The activated cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway suppressed pathways necessary for tularemia resolution. Administration of AChE inhibitors to the individuals suffering from tularemia is contra-indicatory. Drugs based on AChE inhibition should be restricted when tularemia or disease with a similar pathogenesis is suspected.

Keywords: Francisella tularensis; cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway; cholinergic system; immunomodulation; intracellular pathogen; parasympathicus.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
mortality after tularemia infection and acetylcholine (ACh) or neostigmine (neo) administration.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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