Captopril modulates acetylcholinesterase in human keratinocytes

Human keratinocytes synthesize and secrete non-neuronal acetylcholine, which acts as a local cell signaling molecule, regulating functions like proliferation, cell adhesion, motility, desmosomal cell contact, and glandular activity. The keratinocyte acetylcholine axis is composed of the enzymes mediating acetylcholine synthesis (acetyltransferase) and degradation (acetylcholinesterase), and two classes of acetylcholine receptors. In this study we investigated the effect of captopril, an ACE-inhibitor, on acetylcholinesterase and acetylcholine secretion in human keratinocytes. We analyzed the level of acetylcholinesterase in HaCat and NHEK cells by RT-PCR and Western blotting analysis. In addition, the effect of captopril on AChE activity was evaluated. We found that captopril induces a strong AChE up-regulation leading to ACh degradation and reduced secretion. Our results suggest that acantholysis induced by ACE-inhibitors might be linked to altered level of Ach.