Methods of inhibiting release of a proinflammatory cytokine from a macrophage are provided. The methods comprise treating the macrophage with a cholinergic agonist in an amount sufficient to decrease the amount of the proinflammatory cytokine that is released from the macrophage, wherein the cholinergic agonist is selective for an α7 nicotinic receptor. Methods for inhibiting an inflammatory cytokine cascade in a patient are also provided. The methods comprise treating the patient with a cholinergic agonist in an amount sufficient to inhibit the inflammatory cytokine cascade, wherein the cholinergic agonist is selective for an α7 nicotinic receptor. Methods for determining whether a compound is a cholinergic agonist reactive with an α7 nicotinic receptor are also provided. The methods comprise determining whether the compound inhibits release of a proinflammatory cytokine from a mammalian cell. Additionally, methods for determining whether a compound is a cholinergic antagonist reactive with an α7 nicotinic receptor are provided. These methods comprise determining whether the compound reduces the ability of a cholinergic agonist to inhibit the release of a proinflammatory cytokine from a mammalian cell. Oligonucleotides or mimetics capable of inhibiting attenuation of lipopolysaccharide-induced TNF release from a mammalian macrophage upon exposure of the macrophage to a cholinergic agonist are also provided. The oligonucleotides or mimetics consist essentially of a sequence greater than 5 nucleotides long that is complementary to an mRNA of an α7 receptor. Additionally, methods of inhibiting attenuation of TNF release from a mammalian macrophage upon exposure of the macrophage to a cholinergic agonist are provided. These methods comprise treating the macrophage with the above-described oligonucleotide or mimetic.
提供了抑制巨噬细胞释放促炎细胞因子的方法。这些方法包括用
胆碱能激动剂处理巨噬细胞,其用量足以减少从巨噬细胞释放的促炎细胞因子的量,其中
胆碱能激动剂对α7
烟碱受体具有选择性。还提供了抑制患者炎症细胞因子级联的方法。这些方法包括用足以抑制炎症细胞因子级联的
胆碱能激动剂治疗患者,其中
胆碱能激动剂对α7
烟碱受体具有选择性。还提供了确定化合物是否是与 α7
尼古丁受体反应的
胆碱能激动剂的方法。这些方法包括确定化合物是否抑制哺乳动物细胞释放促炎细胞因子。此外,还提供了确定化合物是否是与α7
烟碱受体反应的
胆碱能拮抗剂的方法。这些方法包括确定化合物是否降低了
胆碱能激动剂抑制哺乳动物细胞释放促炎细胞因子的能力。还提供了能够在哺乳动物巨噬细胞暴露于
胆碱能激动剂时抑制减弱脂
多糖诱导的TNF从该巨噬细胞释放的寡核苷酸或模拟物。寡核苷酸或模拟物基本上由长度大于 5 个核苷酸的序列组成,该序列与 α7 受体的 mRNA 互补。此外,还提供了在哺乳动物巨噬细胞暴露于
胆碱能激动剂时抑制其 TNF 释放的方法。这些方法包括用上述寡核苷酸或模拟物处理巨噬细胞。