Abstract
The α7-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7-nAChR) is widely known as a neurotransmitter receptor in nervous systems. α7-nAChR is also present in a variety of non-neuronal tissues, where it has been implicated in the regulation of essential cellular functions including proliferation, survival, differentiation and communication. We have recently found in breast cancer that α7-nAChR is involved in the proliferation of cancer stem cells, which constitute a minor subpopulation responsible for tumor development and metastasis. Since growing evidence suggests that α7-nAChR is present not only in mature tissues and organs but also in undifferentiated stem cells and progenitor cells, α7-nAChR emerges as a key mediator in the regulation of self-renewal and differentiation. We provide here an overview of the recent works on the expression and function of α7-nAChR in normal and cancer stem cells, and their relevance to disease-related cellular dysfunction. Understanding the role of α7-nAChR in stem cells would be of great interest for its application potential in drug discovery and in regenerative medicine.
Keywords: α7-Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors, breast cancer, cancer stem cell, nicotine, stem cells, neurotransmitter, HSC, protein kinase C, chemotherapies, cholinergic system
Current Drug Targets
Title:Role of α7-Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor in Normal and Cancer Stem Cells
Volume: 13 Issue: 5
Author(s): Waka Lin, Naoya Hirata, Yuko Sekino and Yasunari Kanda
Affiliation:
Keywords: α7-Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors, breast cancer, cancer stem cell, nicotine, stem cells, neurotransmitter, HSC, protein kinase C, chemotherapies, cholinergic system
Abstract: The α7-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7-nAChR) is widely known as a neurotransmitter receptor in nervous systems. α7-nAChR is also present in a variety of non-neuronal tissues, where it has been implicated in the regulation of essential cellular functions including proliferation, survival, differentiation and communication. We have recently found in breast cancer that α7-nAChR is involved in the proliferation of cancer stem cells, which constitute a minor subpopulation responsible for tumor development and metastasis. Since growing evidence suggests that α7-nAChR is present not only in mature tissues and organs but also in undifferentiated stem cells and progenitor cells, α7-nAChR emerges as a key mediator in the regulation of self-renewal and differentiation. We provide here an overview of the recent works on the expression and function of α7-nAChR in normal and cancer stem cells, and their relevance to disease-related cellular dysfunction. Understanding the role of α7-nAChR in stem cells would be of great interest for its application potential in drug discovery and in regenerative medicine.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Waka Lin, Naoya Hirata, Yuko Sekino and Yasunari Kanda , Role of α7-Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor in Normal and Cancer Stem Cells , Current Drug Targets 2012; 13 (5) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1389450111209050656
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1389450111209050656 |
Print ISSN 1389-4501 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-5592 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
New drug therapy for eye diseases
Eyesight is one of the most critical senses, accounting for over 80% of our perceptions. Our quality of life might be significantly affected by eye disease, including glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, dry eye, etc. Although the development of microinvasive ocular surgery reduces surgical complications and improves overall outcomes, medication therapy is ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
Related Articles
-
Exosomes and Exosomal microRNAs in Age-associated Stroke
Current Vascular Pharmacology Determinants of Anti-Cancer Effect of Mitochondrial Electron Transport Chain Inhibitors: Bioenergetic Profile and Metabolic Flexibility of Cancer Cells
Current Pharmaceutical Design Tobacco, Inflammation, and Respiratory Tract Cancer
Current Pharmaceutical Design Use of Metformin and Survival of Diabetic Women with Breast Cancer
Current Drug Safety Molecular Imaging of Tumor Angiogenesis and Therapeutic Effects with Dual Bioluminescence
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Transactivation of ErbB Receptors by Leptin in the Cardiovascular System: Mechanisms, Consequences and Target for Therapy
Current Pharmaceutical Design Modulation of the Endocannabinoid System by Lipid Rafts
Current Medicinal Chemistry Molecular Imaging Aided Improvement in Drug Discovery and Development
Current Biotechnology Imaging of Hypoxia Using PET and MRI
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Chemical and Radiochemical Considerations in Radiolabeling with α-Emitting Radionuclides
Current Radiopharmaceuticals Nanotechnology: A Novel Approach for Drug Development in Health Care System
Current Nanomaterials Anti-Hormonal Therapies for Premenopausal Patients – What did we Learn from the TEXT/SOFT Trials?
Reviews on Recent Clinical Trials Goat Milk Frozen Yogurt Caja (Spondias mombin L.) Flavor: Development and Sensory Acceptance of an Exotic Food
Current Nutrition & Food Science Synthesis and Antiproliferative Activity of 2-arylidene 6-(2-aryl-2-oxoethoxy)Benzofuran-3-one Derivatives
Letters in Drug Design & Discovery The Boundary between Hypochondriasis, Personality Dysfunction, and Trauma
Current Psychiatry Reviews Expression and Clinical Significance of Microtubule-Actin Cross-Linking Factor 1 in Serous Ovarian Cancer
Recent Patents on Anti-Cancer Drug Discovery Dual-purpose Injectable Doxorubicin Conjugated Alginate Gel Containing Polycaprolactone Microparticles for Anti-Cancer and Anti-Inflammatory Therapy
Current Drug Delivery FANCJ Helicase Operates in the Fanconi Anemia DNA Repair Pathway and the Response to Replicational Stress
Current Molecular Medicine Synergistic Effect of α-Solanine and Cisplatin Induces Apoptosis and Enhances Cell Cycle Arrest in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Targeting Rho GTPases by Peptidic Structures
Current Pharmaceutical Design