人参皂苷Rg3通过调控ROS途径诱导人肺癌细胞A549凋亡

摘 要 目的：探究人参皂苷Rg3（GS Rg3）对人肺癌细胞A549凋亡的影响及其潜在的分子机制。方法: 将人肺癌细胞A549分为5组,分别为对照组、N L酰半胱氨酸（NAc）组、GS Rg3低剂量组、GS Rg3中剂量组、NAc+GS Rg3高剂量组,采用MTT实验和流式细胞仪检测细胞增殖和凋亡,采用实时荧光定量PCR（qRT PCR）和蛋白免疫印迹（Western blot）检测A549细胞中半胱氨酸天冬氨酸蛋白酶（caspase 3）、caspase 9、BAX和B细胞淋巴瘤基因 2（BCL 2）表达情况。结果: NAc组ROS水平、细胞凋亡率及细胞中caspase 3、caspase 9、BAX mRNA相对表达量和蛋白表达情况均低于对照组（P＜0.05）,GS Rg3低剂量组、中剂量组和NAc+GS Rg3高剂量组ROS水平、细胞凋亡率及caspase 3、caspase 9、BAX mRNA相对表达量和蛋白表达情况高于对照组和NAc组（P＜0.05）;NAc组细胞增殖率及细胞中BCL 2mRNA相对表达量和蛋白表达情况高于对照组（P＜0.05）,GS Rg3低剂量组、中剂量组和NAc+GS Rg3高剂量组细胞增殖率及BCL 2mRNA和蛋白表达低于对照组和NAc组（P＜0.05）。结论: GS Rg3能够调控人肺癌细胞A549中ROS途径,进而诱导细胞凋亡,为肺癌的临床治疗提供一定的理论依据。     

二氢杨梅素对胶质瘤细胞株U87增值凋亡及PI3K/Akt通路的影响

摘 要 目的：探讨二氢杨梅素（DMY）对胶质瘤细胞株U87增殖、凋亡、自噬及磷脂酰肌醇 3激酶/丝 苏氨酸蛋白激酶（PI3K/Akt）信号通路的影响。 方法: 体外培养胶质瘤U87细胞,U87细胞分为4组：空白对照组、DMY低（25 μmol·L-1）、中（50 μmol·L-1）、高（100 μmol·L-1）剂量组。采用MTT法检测U87细胞增殖情况,Hoechst染色法检测U87细胞凋亡,透射电镜下观察自噬体形成,蛋白印迹（WB）法检测凋亡蛋白B细胞淋巴瘤 2（Bcl 2）及其相关蛋白（Bax）、裂解的半胱氨酸天冬氨酸蛋白酶 3（cleaved caspase 3）、自噬相关蛋白Beclin 1、微管相关蛋白1轻链3（LC3）、P62及PI3K/Akt信号通路相关蛋白PI3K及其磷酸化激酶（p PI3K）、Akt及其磷酸化蛋白（p Akt）表达。 结果: 与空白对照组相比,DMY处理后U87细胞存活率、P62、Bcl 2、p PI3K及p Akt蛋白表达量均显著降低（P＜0.05）,且高剂量组显著低于低、中剂量组（P＜0.05）;与空白对照组相比,DMY处理后U87细胞凋亡率、自噬体数量、自噬泡/胞质总面积、LC3 Ⅱ/LC3 Ⅰ比值、LC3 Ⅱ、Beclin 1、Bax及cleaved caspase 3蛋白表达量均显著升高（P＜0.05）,且高剂量组显著高于低、中剂量组（P＜0.05）。 结论: 二氢杨梅素可有效抑制胶质瘤U87细胞增殖,并可诱导自噬发生促使细胞凋亡,其作用机制可能与PI3K/Akt信号通路有关。     

芦荟大黄素对胃癌SGC-7901细胞凋亡、自噬及p53/AMPK/mTOR信号通路的影响

摘 要 目的：探讨芦荟大黄素（AE）对胃癌SGC-7901细胞凋亡、自噬及p53蛋白（p53）/磷酸腺苷蛋白激酶（AMPK）/雷帕霉素靶蛋白（mTOR）信号通路的影响。 方法: 实验分为对照组（AE 0 μmol·L-1）、AE低（10 μmol·L-1）、中（30 μmol·L-1）、高（50 μmol·L-1）剂量组和自噬阻断剂3 甲基腺嘌呤（3 MA）+ AE组（20 μmol·L-1+50 μmol·L-1）。CCK 8法检测各组细胞增殖抑制率,采用透射电镜及单丹磺酰尸胺（MDC）染色观察各组细胞自噬体及自噬溶酶体的变化,采用末端脱氧核苷酸转移酶介导的dUTP 缺口末端标记测定（TUNEL）法观察各组细胞凋亡率变化,Western blot法检测各组细胞p53、AMPK、mTOR信号通路蛋白及自噬标致蛋白Beclin 1蛋白（Beclin 1）、微管相关轻链蛋白Ⅰ（LC3Ⅰ）及微管相关轻链蛋白Ⅱ（LC3Ⅱ）表达情况。 结果: 与对照组相比,AE各剂量组及3 MA+AE组细胞的增殖抑制率、凋亡指数（AI）显著升高（P<0.05）,且呈剂量依赖性;AE中、高剂量组的增殖抑制率和AI与3 MA+AE组相比差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。与对照组相比,AE各剂量组细胞自噬体、自噬空泡增多,溶酶体积分光密度（IOD）/所选区域面积（Area）值及p53、AMPK、Beclin 1表达显著升高,mTOR表达及LC3Ⅰ/LC3Ⅱ比值显著降低（P<0.05）,且呈剂量依赖性;3 MA+AE组细胞自噬体、自噬空包等超微结构减少,IOD/Area值及p53、AMPK及Beclin 1表达显著降低,mTOR表达及LC3Ⅰ/LC3Ⅱ比值显著升高（P<0.05）。 结论: AE可通过提高胃癌SGC-7901细胞自噬水平,诱导SGC-7901细胞凋亡,其机制可能与促进p53/AMPK/mTOR信号通路表达有关。     

CXCR4拮抗剂对三阴性乳腺癌MDA MB 231细胞增殖和凋亡的影响及机制研究

摘 要 目的：探讨趋化因子基质细胞衍生因子 1受体（CXCR4）拮抗剂（AMD3100）对三阴性乳腺癌MDA MB 231细胞增殖和凋亡的影响及机制。 方法: 设MCF10A细胞组、三阴性乳腺癌MDA MB 231细胞组、氟尿嘧啶组(8.0 μg·ml-1)、CXCR4拮抗剂低、高剂量组(4.0,8.0 μg·ml-1),测定各组癌细胞的细胞活力、单克隆形成数目、细胞凋亡率、穿膜孔数,及三阴性乳腺癌MDA MB 231细胞基质细胞衍生因子1（SDF 1）、CXCR4、半胱氨酸蛋白酶 3（caspase 3）、半胱氨酸蛋白酶 6（caspase 6）、血管内皮生长因子（VEGF ）mRNA、蛋白水平。 结果: 与MCF10A细胞组比较,MDA MB 231细胞组吸光度（A）值、存活率水平、细胞克隆形成数目、穿膜数、SDF 1、CXCR4、VEGF mRNA及蛋白表达水平显著升高,细胞凋亡率、caspase 3、caspase 6 mRNA及蛋白表达水平显著降低（P<0.05）。与MDA MB 231细胞组比较,氟尿嘧啶组、CXCR4拮抗剂低、高剂量组的A值、存活率水平、细胞克隆形成数目、穿膜数、SDF 1、CXCR4、VEGF mRNA及蛋白表达水平显著降低,细胞凋亡率、caspase 3、caspase 6 mRNA及蛋白表达水平显著升高（P<0.05）。与氟尿嘧啶组比较,CXCR4拮抗剂低剂量组的A值、存活率水平、细胞克隆形成数目、穿膜数、SDF 1、CXCR4、VEGF mRNA及蛋白表达水平显著升高,细胞凋亡率、caspase 3、caspase 6 mRNA及蛋白表达水平显著降低（P<0.05）;CXCR4拮抗剂高剂量组差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）。 结论: AMD3100能抑制三阴性乳腺癌MDA MB 231细胞增殖、侵袭,诱导其凋亡;其机制与AMD3100能特异性阻断三阴性乳腺癌MDA MB 231细胞 SDF 1、CXCR4 mRNA及蛋白的表达水平,导致其SDF 1/CXCR4信号传导受阻有关。     

格列美脲对细颗粒物PM2.5诱导的心肌样细胞损伤的保护作用及机制研究

摘 要 目的：探讨格列美脲对细颗粒物空气动力学直径<2.5 μm（PM2.5）诱导的心肌样细胞损伤的保护作用及机制研究。 方法: 采用噻唑蓝（MTT）确定PM2.5的干预浓度;将大鼠心肌样细胞H9c2分为对照组（含血清1640培养基）、PM2.5组（800 mg·L-1）、格列美脲低、中、高剂量组（10,20,40 μmol·L-1的格列美脲＋800 mg·L-1的PM2.5）。培养24 h后检测H9c2细胞中肿瘤坏死因子 α（TNF α）和白细胞介素 1β（IL 1β）含量,同时检测细胞中活性氧（ROS）和细胞凋亡率,检测B淋巴细胞瘤 2（Bcl 2）、Bcl 2 Associated X的蛋白质（Bax）和半胱氨酸天冬氨酸特异性蛋白酶 3（caspase 3）mRNA表达水平。 结果: 随着PM2.5浓度的增加,H9c2细胞增值率降低,在800 mg·L-1时H9c2细胞增值率降到46.28%,故选800 mg·L-1作为PM2.5的干预浓度;与PM2.5组比较,格列美脲各剂量组细胞中TNF α、IL 1β含量、ROS荧光强度、细胞凋亡率、Bax和caspase 3 mRNA的相对表达量显著降低（P<0.05）,Bcl 2 mRNA的相对表达量显著升高（P<0.05）,且呈剂量相关性（P<0.05）。 结论: 格列美脲对细颗粒物PM2.5诱导的心肌样细胞损伤具有保护作用,其机制可能与格列美脲减轻炎症反应和氧化应激、抑制心肌细胞凋亡有关。     

5-取代-1-氮杂蒽酮类衍生物A7对APPsw细胞分泌Aβ1-42蛋白的抑制作用研究

摘 要 目的：探讨5 取代 1 氮杂蒽酮类衍生物对过表达APPsw的SH SY5Y细胞(简称APPsw 细胞)分泌Aβ1 42蛋白的影响。方法: 将APPsw细胞分为四组,分别为对照组（只加入溶剂）、高剂量组（10 μmol·L-1衍生物）、中剂量组（1 μmol·L-1衍生物）、低剂量组（0.1 μmol·L-1衍生物）。MTT法检测细胞存活率,ELISA测定细胞外Aβ1 42 水平;Western Blot检测Aβ1 42前体蛋白APP的表达变化。结果:5 取代 1 氮杂蒽酮类衍生物中化合物A7可剂量依赖性增加细胞活力;ELISA和Western blot结果显示,A7可剂量依赖性减少APPsw细胞外Aβ1 42蛋白水平和前体蛋白APP表达,高剂量A7可使显著性下调Aβ1 42蛋白分泌（P<0.05）,降低前体蛋白APP表达（P<0.05）。结论:5 取代 1 氮杂蒽酮类衍生物A7可以抑制APPsw细胞中 Aβ1 42蛋白的表达。     

淫羊藿苷对脂多糖诱导成骨细胞凋亡及GRP78/PERK/CHOP通路的影响

摘 要 目的：探讨淫羊藿苷（ICA）对脂多糖（LPS）诱导成骨细胞凋亡及葡萄糖调节蛋白78/蛋白激酶R样内质网激酶/C/EBP同源蛋白（GRP78/PERK/CHOP）通路的影响。 方法: 采用大鼠骨髓基质干细胞定向诱导分化为成骨细胞的方法,将成骨细胞随机分成5组：对照组（只含成骨细胞）、LPS组（成骨细胞中加入终浓度为500 ng·ml-1 LPS）、ICA低、中、高剂量组（分别在LPS组基础上加入终浓度为1,10,100 μmol·L-1 ICA）。采用CCK 8法检测细胞增殖情况,采用对硝基苯棕榈酸酯（PNPP）法检测成骨细胞碱性磷酸酶（AKP）活性的变化情况,采用ELISA法检测成骨细胞Ⅰ型胶原蛋白表达情况,采用AnnexinV/PI双染法流式细胞术检测细胞凋亡情况,采用Western blot检测凋亡及GRP78/PERK/CHOP通路相关蛋白表达情况。 结果: 骨髓基质干细胞经定向诱导后,符合成骨细胞形态学表现,AKP染色呈阳性反应,Ⅰ型胶原蛋白免疫组织化学染色结果显示：细胞质染色呈棕黄色;与对照组相比,LPS组细胞48 h时的吸光度（A）值、AKP活性、Ⅰ型胶原蛋白和B淋巴细胞瘤 2基因（Bcl 2）蛋白表达水平显著降低（P＜0.05）,细胞凋亡率、活化的天冬氨酸特异性半胱氨酸蛋白酶 3（cleaved caspase 3）、Bax、GRP78、磷酸化的PERK（p PERK）、磷酸化α亚基的真核起始因子2（p eIF2α）、CHOP蛋白表达水平显著升高（P＜0.05）;与LPS组相比,ICA各剂量组细胞48 h时的A值、AKP活性、Ⅰ型胶原蛋白和Bcl 2蛋白表达水平显著升高（P＜0.05）,细胞凋亡率、cleaved caspase 3、Bax、GRP78、p PERK、p eIF2α、CHOP蛋白表达水平显著降低（P＜0.05）,且呈剂量依赖性（P＜0.05）。     

阿帕替尼联合紫杉醇对人宫颈癌HeLa S3细胞裸鼠移植瘤的抑制作用

摘 要 目的：研究阿帕替尼联合紫杉醇对人宫颈癌HeLa S3细胞裸鼠移植瘤的抑制作用及可能的作用机制。 方法: 将HeLa S3细胞接种于裸鼠右肩背部皮下,建立人宫颈癌裸鼠皮下移植瘤模型。将建模成功的40只裸鼠随机分为4组：模型组,阿帕替尼组（200 mg·kg-1）、阿帕替尼联合紫杉醇低（200 mg·kg-1+ 10 mg·kg-1）、高（200 mg·kg-1+ 20 mg·kg-1）剂量组,每组10只。各给药组按剂量腹腔注射给药,模型组腹腔注射等量生理盐水,1次/d,连续给药 14 d。检测裸鼠移植瘤体积和瘤质量,计算抑瘤率;采用TUNEL法检测肿瘤细胞凋亡指数（AI）,Western blot 法检测瘤组织内含半胱氨酸的天冬氨酸蛋白水解酶（caspase） 3、caspase 9、细胞色素C（Cyto C）蛋白表达情况。 结果: 与模型组比较,阿帕替尼组裸鼠的移植瘤体积、瘤质量均显著降低,抑瘤率、细胞AI、caspase 3、caspase 9、Cyto C蛋白表达量均显著增加（P<0.01）;与阿帕替尼组比较,阿帕替尼联合紫杉醇组裸鼠的移植瘤体积、瘤质量显著降低,抑瘤率、细胞AI、caspase 3、caspase 9、Cyto C蛋白表达量显著增加（P<0.01）,且高低剂量组间差异有统计学意义（P<0.01）。 结论: 阿帕替尼联合紫杉醇对人宫颈癌细胞株移植瘤有明显的抑制作用,且优于单独使用阿帕替尼。     

黄芩素对人胰腺癌细胞增殖与凋亡的影响

摘 要 目的：探讨黄芩素对人胰腺癌细胞增殖与凋亡的影响。方法: 人胰腺癌细胞株BxPC 3和PANC 1经不同浓度（0,50,75,100 μmol·L-1）的黄芩素处理后,通过CCK 8检测、划痕愈合实验、细胞迁移、侵袭实验、显微镜观察、Real time qPCR 检测增殖和凋亡相关基因的影响等方法,观察黄芩素在胰腺癌细胞增殖、迁移、侵袭以及凋亡、基因表达的影响。结果: 与空白对照组比较,黄芩素能够显著抑制胰腺癌细胞BxPC 3和PANC 1的增殖,并且随着浓度的加大,对BxPC 3和PANC 1增殖的抑制作用在加强（P＜0.01）;且黄芩素对两种胰腺癌细胞系的作用效果与临床常用抗癌药吉西他滨（2 μmol·L-1）的作用效果相似。黄芩素能显著抑制胰腺癌细胞的迁移和侵袭,诱导癌细胞的凋亡,诱导胰腺癌细胞自噬;经过黄芩素处理的癌细胞,细胞周期相关基因和抗凋亡基因（cyclinD1、cyclinE、cyclinA和Bcl 2）表达水平下降,而细胞凋亡相关基因（caspase 3和Bax）的表达水平上调明显。结论: 黄芩素能有效抑制胰腺癌细胞BxPC 3和PANC 1的增殖、迁移和侵袭,并且可以通过凋亡和自噬诱导细胞死亡。     

HPLC法同时测定根管消毒糊剂中3种成分的含量

摘 要 目的：建立高效液相色谱法（HPLC）同时测定根管消毒糊剂中多西环素、甲氧苄啶和醋酸地塞米松的含量。 方法: 色谱柱为Wonda Cract C18（250 mm×4.6 mm,5 μm）,流动相为甲醇 0.005 mol·L-1庚烷磺酸钠缓冲溶液（内含0.1%三乙胺）（梯度洗脱）,流速1.0 ml·min-1,检测波长240 nm,柱温25℃,进样量20 μl。 结果: 多西环素、甲氧苄啶和醋酸地塞米松的质量浓度分别在61 ~ 1 214 μg·ml-1（r=0.999 5）、57 ~ 1 137 μg·ml-1（r=0.999 7）和2~9 μg·ml-1（r=0.999 2）范围内与峰面积呈良好的线性关系;平均加样回收率及相应RSD分别为99.5%（RSD=1.21%）、100.4%（RSD=1.23%）和100.1%（RSD=1.20%）（n=9）。 结论: 该方法准确度好,精密度高,可用于多西环素、甲氧苄啶和醋酸地塞米松的同时测定。     

Efficacy of gut lavage,hemodialysis, and hemoperfusion in the therapy of paraquat or diquat intoxication

Clinical and in vitro investigations were carried out to test the efficacy of gut lavage, hemodialysis, and hemoperfusion in the treatment of poisoning with paraquat or diquat. In a patient suffering from diquat intoxication 130 times more diquat was removed by gut lavage 30 h after ingestion than was removed by complete aspiration of the gastric contents.Determination of in vitro clearances for paraquat and diquat by hemodialysis showed that, at serum concentrations of 1–2 ppm, such as are frequently encountered in poisoning in man, toxicologically relevant quantities of herbicide cannot be removed from the body. At a concentration of 20 ppm, on the other hand, hemodialysis proved to be effective, the clearance being 70 ml/min at a blood flow rate of 100 ml/min. The efficacy of hemoperfusion with coated activated charcoal was on the whole better. Especially at concentrations around 1–2 ppm, the clearance values for hemoperfusion were some 5–7 times higher than those for hemodialysis.In a patient suffering from paraquat poisoning, both hemodialysis as well as hemoperfusion were carried out. The in vitro results could be confirmed: At serum concentrations of paraquat less than 1 ppm no clearance could be obtained by hemodialysis while by hemoperfusion with activated charcoal quite high clearance values were measured and the serum level dropped down to zero.

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Zusammenfassung Klinische Untersuchungen und Laboratoriumsversuche wurden durchgeführt, um die Wirksamkeit von Darmspülung, Hämodialyse und Hämoperfusion bei Paraquat- und Deiquat-Vergiftungen zu prüfen.Bei einem Patienten wurde 30 Std nach Deiquat-Aufnahme durch Darmspülung 130mal mehr Deiquat entfernt als durch vollständige Aspiration des Mageninhaltes. In vitro-Versuche ergaben, daß bei Blutserumkonzentrationen von 1–2 ppm, die bei Vergiftungen oft gemessen werden, durch Hämodialyse keine toxikologisch relevanten Paraquat- oder Deiquat-Mengen entfernt werden können. Dagegen erwies sich die Hämodialyse bei 20 ppm und einer Blutumlaufgeschwindigkeit von 100 ml/min mit einer Clearance von 70 ml/min als wirksam. Die Hämoperfusion mit beschicheter Aktivkohle war in diesen Versuchen aber eindeutig überlegen, denn insbesondere bei Konzentrationen um 1–2 ppm waren die Clearance-Werte 5–7mal höher als bei der Hämodialyse.Die in vitro-Ergebnisse wurden bei einem Patienten mit einer Paraquat-Vergiftung bestätigt: Bei Konzentrationen unter 1 ppm war die Hämodialyse wirkungslos, während durch Hämoperfusion relativ hohe Clearance-Werte erreicht wurden, so daß der Serumspiegel rasch unter die Nachweisgrenze abfiel.

     

In vitro studies on sterically stabilized liposomes (SL) as enzyme carriers in organophosphorus (OP) antagonism

This study describes a new approach for organophosphorous (OP) antidotal treatment by encapsulating an OP hydrolyzing enzyme, OPA anhydrolase (OPAA), within sterically stabilized liposomes. The recombinant OPAA enzyme was derived from Alteromonas strain JD6. It has broad substrate specificity to a wide range of OP compounds: DFP and the nerve agents, soman and sarin. Liposomes encapsulating OPAA (SL)* were made by mechanical dispersion method. Hydrolysis of DFP by (SL)* was measured by following an increase of fluoride ion concentration using a fluoride ion selective electrode. OPAA entrapped in the carrier liposomes rapidly hydrolyze DFP, with the rate of DFP hydrolysis directly proportional to the amount of (SL)* added to the solution. Liposomal carriers containing no enzyme did not hydrolyze DFP. The reaction was linear and the rate of hydrolysis was first order in the substrate. This enzyme carrier system serves as a biodegradable protective environment for the recombinant OP-metabolizing enzyme, OPAA, resulting in prolongation of enzymatic concentration in the body. These studies suggest that the protection of OP intoxication can be strikingly enhanced by adding OPAA encapsulated within (SL)* to pralidoxime and atropine.     

Steroidal sapogenin contents in some domestic plants

In order to find out the values of the steroid resources for the future use. the compositions and contents of steroidal sapogenins from 13 domestic plants have been investigated. As a result,Dioscorea nipponica, D. quinqueloba andSmilax china were found to have large amount of diosgenin. And pennogenin inTrillium kamtschaticum andParis verticillata, yuccagenin inAllium fistulosum, hecogenin inAgave americana and neochlorogenin inSolanum nigum were appeared to be major steroidal sapogenins.     

Aquatic Insects and Trace Metals: Bioavailability,Bioaccumulation, and Toxicity

Abstract

The uptake of metals from food and water sources by insects is thought to be additive. For a given metal, the proportions taken up from water and food will depend both on the bioavailable concentration of the metal associated with each source and the mechanism and rate by which the metal enters the insect. Attempts to correlate insect trace metal concentrations with the trophic level of insects should be made with a knowledge of the feeding relationships of the individual taxa concerned. Pathways for the uptake of essential metals, such as copper and zinc, exist at the cellular level, and other nonessential metals, such as cadmium, also appear to enter via these routes. Within cells, trace metals can be bound to proteins or stored in granules. The internal distribution of metals among body tissues is very heterogeneous, and distribution patterns tend to be both metal and taxon specific. Trace metals associated with insects can be both bound on the surface of their chitinous exoskeleton and incorporated into body tissues. The quantities of trace meals accumulated by an individual reflect the net balance between the rate of metal influx from both dissolved and particulate sources and the rate of metal efflux from the organism. The toxicity of metals has been demonstrated at all levels of biological organization: cell, tissue, individual, population, and community. Much of the literature pertaining to the toxic effects of metals on aquatic insects is based on laboratory observations and, as such, it is difficult to extrapolate the data to insects in nature. The few experimental studies in nature suggest that trace metal contaminants can affect both the distribution and the abundance of aquatic insects. Insects have a largely unexploited potential as biomonitors of metal contamination in nature. A better understanding of the physico-chemical and biological mechanisms mediating trace metal bioavailability and exchange will facilitate the development of general predictive models relating trace metal concentrations in insects to those in their environment. Such models will facilitate the use of insects as contaminant biomonitors.     

Alzheimer’s disease – current trends in basic and clinical research. Highlights from the 16th ECNP

Advances in the molecular biological knowledge of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) have led to a growing interest by the pharmaceutical industry in the development of novel compounds that selectively modulate nAChR function. The ability of (-)-nicotine, an activator of nAChRs, to enhance attentional aspects of cognition in animals and humans, to exert neuroprotective and anxiolytic-like effects, and presumably to mediate the negative correlation between smoking and Alzheimer's (and Parkinson's) Disease, has focused interest on the potential therapeutic utility of modulators of nAChR function for treatment of some of the deficits associated with these progressive, neurodegenerative conditions. Numerous compounds are known which activate nAChRs and which might serve as lead compounds toward the development of such agents. The pharmacologic diversity of neuronal nAChR subtypes suggests the possibility of developing selective compounds which would have more favourable side-effect profiles than existing agents. This broader class of agents, collectively called cholinergic channel modulators (ChCMs), is anticipated to encompass compounds which would have more favourable side-effect profiles than existing agents, which generally exhibit low selectivity. This selectivity may be achieved by preferentially activating some subtypes of nAChRs (i.e., Cholinergic Channel Activators, ChCAs) or inhibiting the function of other subtypes (Cholinergic Channel Inhibitors, ChCIs). An overview of the biology of nAChRs and the rationale for the use of ChCMs for the treatment of dementia related to neurodegenerative diseases are presented, followed by a discussion of lead compounds and compounds under consideration for clinical evaluation.