The Pharmacology of Botulinum Toxin

보툴리눔 독소의 약리

Botulinum toxins are the most potent toxins known to mankind. Botulinum toxin acts by blocking the cholinergic neuromuscular or the cholinergic autonomic innervation of exocrine glands and smooth muscles. Seven distinct antigenic botulinum toxins (A, B, C, D, E, F and G) produced by different strains of Clostridium botulinum have been described and only A and B type of botulinum toxins were clinically used. Toxins were consisted of a heavy chain with a molecular weight of 100 kD and a light chain with a molecular weight of 50 kD. Toxins are bound with an astounding selectivity to glycoprotein structures located on the cholinergic nerve terminal. Subsequently light chain of toxin is internalized and cleaves different proteins of the acetylcholine transport protein cascade transporting the acetylcholine vesicle from the intracellular space into the synaptic cleft. After a decade of therapeutic application of the toxin, no anaphylaxis or deaths have been reported and systemic adverse effects have not been reported so far. However the toxin's immunologic properties can lead to the stimulation of antibody production, potentially rendering further treatments ineffective. Botulinum toxin is a safe and effective treatment. Use of botulinum toxin in clinical medicine has grown exponentially in recent years, and many parts of the human body are now being targeted for therapeutic purposes.