Title:Cholinergic Anti-inflammatory Pathway and Stroke
Volume: 14
Issue: 4
Author(s): Kamil Duris, Jolana Lipkova and Michal Jurajda*
Affiliation:
- Institute of Pathological Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University Brno, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno,Czech Republic
Keywords:
Cerebral ischemia, cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway, inflammation, intracerebral hemorrhage, stroke, subarachnoid
hemorrhage, Vagus nerve stimulation, α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7 nAChR).
Abstract: Background: Stroke is devastating cerebrovascular event which is responsible for 6.7 million
deaths each year worldwide. Inflammation plays an important role in the pathophysiology of stroke.
Targeting inflammation after stroke is highly actual topic for both experimental and clinical research.
Methods: Research articles related to cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway (CHAIP) and stroke were
reviewed. The first part of review describes the basic characteristics of inflammatory response after
stroke, main components and function of CHAIP. The second part reviews studies focused on CHAIP
as a therapeutic target for ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. Both pharmacological stimulation of α7
nAChR and vagus nerve stimulation after stroke are reviewed.
Results: Cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway (CHAIP) is a physiological mechanism by which central
nervous system regulates immune response and controls inflammation. Vagus nerve, spleen and α7
nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7 nAChR) are the main components of CHAIP.
Conclusion: Targeting cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway is a promising way of immunomodulation
which attenuates inflammation in a complex manner without causing immunosuppression.
