The 103rd Annual Meeting of The Physiological Society of Japan

Organizers/Chairs: Yoshihiko Kakinuma (Nippon Medical School), Tsuyoshi Inoue (Nagasaki University)

The non-neuronal acetylcholine-producing system is different from acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter, in the autonomic nervous system in that non-neuronal cells themselves are capable of producing acetylcholine. Its existence is confirmed not only in eukaryotes but also in prokaryotes and plants, suggesting that it is evolutionarily older. The concept of this system, which was initially found in immunocompetent cells (macrophages, T cells, etc.), has been gradually established since its role in regulating immune responses was reported. However, the presence has also been reported in cells other than immune cells, such as tracheal and gastrointestinal epithelial cells, as well as vascular endothelial cells and cardiomyocytes belonging to the circulatory system. As a result, it has been revealed that the system in those cardiovascular cells has more diverse, complex, and fundamental physiological functions than ever before, suggesting that they are a system that should be addressed. In this symposium, focusing on organs other than the immune system, namely the reproductive, digestive, kidney, and other organs, we would like to present and discuss the physiological functions of this system and its possible involvement in interventions and pathological conditions, based on the results of previous studies.