Altinicline
Encyclopedia
Altinicline is a drug which acts as an agonist
at neural nicotinic acetylcholine receptor
s with high selectivity for the α4β2
subtype. It stimulates release of dopamine
and acetylcholine
in the brain in both rodent and primate models, and progressed as far as Phase II clinical trials for Parkinson's disease
, although its current status is unclear.
Agonist
An agonist is a chemical that binds to a receptor of a cell and triggers a response by that cell. Agonists often mimic the action of a naturally occurring substance...
at neural nicotinic acetylcholine receptor
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, or nAChRs, are cholinergic receptors that form ligand-gated ion channels in the plasma membranes of certain neurons and on the postsynaptic side of the neuromuscular junction...
s with high selectivity for the α4β2
Alpha-4 beta-2 nicotinic receptor
The alpha-4 beta-2 nicotinic receptor, also known as the α4β2 receptor, is a type of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, consisting of α4 and β2 subunits...
subtype. It stimulates release of dopamine
Dopamine
Dopamine is a catecholamine neurotransmitter present in a wide variety of animals, including both vertebrates and invertebrates. In the brain, this substituted phenethylamine functions as a neurotransmitter, activating the five known types of dopamine receptors—D1, D2, D3, D4, and D5—and their...
and acetylcholine
Acetylcholine
The chemical compound acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter in both the peripheral nervous system and central nervous system in many organisms including humans...
in the brain in both rodent and primate models, and progressed as far as Phase II clinical trials for Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system...
, although its current status is unclear.