A muscarinic acetylcholine receptor agonist, also simply known as a muscarinic agonist or as a muscarinic agent, is an agent that activates the activity of the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor. The muscarinic receptor has different subtypes, labelled M1-M5, allowing for further differentiation.

Clinical significance

M1

M1-type muscarinic acetylcholine receptors play a role in cognitive processing. In Alzheimer disease (AD), amyloid formation may decrease the ability of these receptors to transmit signals, leading to decreased cholinergic activity. As these receptors themselves appear relatively unchanged in the disease process, they have become a potential therapeutic target when trying to improve cognitive function in patients with AD. A number of muscarinic agonists have been developed and are under investigation to treat AD. These agents show promise as they are neurotrophic, decrease amyloid depositions, and improve damage due to oxidative stress. Tau-phosphorylation is decreased and cholinergic function enhanced. Notably several agents of the AF series of muscarinic agonists have become the focus of such research:. AF102B, AF150(S), AF267B. In animal models that are mimicking the damage of AD, these agents appear promising. The dual M1, M4 agonist xanomeline has been proposed as a potential treatment for schizophrenia. Xanomeline/trospium chloride was approved in the US in 2024. Based on preclinical pharmacological and genetic studies, M1 predominantly modulates cognitive symptom domains and modestly regulates psychosis symptom domains.

M3

In the form of pilocarpine, muscarinic receptor agonists have been used medically for a short time.

M4

Xanomeline exerts its action partially through the M4 receptor. Based on preclinical pharmacological and genetic studies, M4 receptors appear to modulate both psychosis and cognitive symptom domains.

Muscarinic versus nicotinic activity

Muscarinic acetylcholine receptor subtypes

The targets for muscarinic agonists are the muscarinic receptors: M1, M2, M3, M4 and M5. These receptors are GPCRs coupled to either Gi or Gq subunits.