Involvement of Mast Cells in α7 Nicotinic Receptor Agonist Exacerbation of Freund's Complete Adjuvant–Induced Monoarthritis in Mice

Abstract

Using CFA to elicit a local inflammatory response, we found that pharmacologic activation of α7-nAChR exacerbated joint inflammation and pain, in part via mast cells, which illustrates the organ- and disease-specific nature of regulatory neuroimmune mechanisms. Thus, α7-nAChR activation may not be uniformly antiinflammatory in all types of inflammatory joint disease.