Inhibition of Adenylate Cyclase: The muscarinic receptor, through interaction with an inhibitory GTP-binding protein, acts to inhibit adenylyl cyclase. Reduced cAMP production leads to reduced activation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase, reduced heart rate, and contraction strength.
Scleroderma, a rare autoimmune disease characterized by abnormal connective tissue growth, can wreak havoc on everything from the skin and heart to lungs, teeth, speech, and movement. The overproduction of collagen causes the skin and organs to harden, leading them to atrophy and possibly fail.
During osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, this regulation is disrupted by the expression of pro-inflammatory molecules that provides the stimulus for the synthesis of matrix-degrading enzymes. These enzymes degrade aggrecan and collagen, resulting in the loss of cartilage and function.