Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonists may be a novel therapy for endometriosis

Yuan Wu, Wu Y, Liping Wang, Li-ping Wang, Pan JQ, Jian-Qing Pan, Jianqing Pan
Medical hypotheses · 2011 · vol. 77(5) , pp. 745–747 · doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2011.07.028 · PMID:21835554 · W1989223618
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This paper explores nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonists as a potential novel therapeutic strategy for endometriosis.

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Abstract

Endometriosis (EMs) is defined as the presence of tissue which somewhat resembles endometrial glands and stroma outside the uterus, and elicit an inflammatory response. This response is accompanied by angiogenesis, adhesions, fibrosis, scarring, neuronal infiltration, and anatomical distortion, resulting in pain and infertility. Owing to the side effects of the present medical treatment and the 10% incidence of recurrence after surgery, EMs is difficult to cure completely so far, that have given impetus to consider novel therapy. Since 1980s, cigarette smoking was found inversely related to the risk of having EMs and it is generally considered that nicotine may play a beneficial role in the pathological process of EMs. Recently, the anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive functions of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) as well as the related mechanisms have become a research hotspot. Based on the above-mentioned, it suggests that the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonists may be applied for the treatment of EMs.

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Condition tags

endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Endometriosis Nicotinic Agonists Receptors, Nicotinic Endometriosis Female Humans Models, Theoretical Nicotinic Agonists Nicotinic Agonists Receptors, Nicotinic

Citation neighborhood

Papers in the corpus that this work cites (lower rings, blue) and that cite this one (upper rings, green). Dot size scales with the paper's in-corpus citation count — bigger dot = more influential within the endo/adeno field. Click a dot to open that paper. [ expand to 2 hops ] — adds papers reached through this work's immediate citers/citees. Heavier; up to 60 extra dots.

References (34)

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