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Molecular Structure, Mode of Action, Immunology, Safety, and Side Effects of BoNTs

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Botulinum Toxin Treatment of Pain Disorders

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Abstract

This chapter describes the molecular structure of botulinum neurotoxins (BoNT), the functions of light chain and heavy chain, and how after intramuscular injection, BoNT reaches cholinergic synapse of the nerve terminal. The sequence of events through which the toxin cleaves the SNARE proteins in the nerve terminal (binding, endocytosis, translocation, and protease action of the light chain) leading to prevention of acetylcholine release at the cholinergic nerve terminal is also discussed along with the immunology of botulinum toxins, differences among various marketed toxins, the issue of safety, and side effects of BoNTs.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Professor Emeritus of Neurology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA

    Bahman Jabbari MD, FANN

  2. Clinical Professor of Neurology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA

    Bahman Jabbari MD, FANN

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  1. Bahman Jabbari MD, FANN
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Jabbari, B. (2022). Molecular Structure, Mode of Action, Immunology, Safety, and Side Effects of BoNTs. In: Botulinum Toxin Treatment of Pain Disorders. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-99650-5_2

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