Abstract
The alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7 nAChR) is widely distributed in the human brain and has been implicated in a number of human central nervous system (CNS) diseases, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, schizophrenia and autism. Recently, new roles for α7 nAChRs in lung cancer and heart disease have been elucidated. Despite the importance of this receptor in human pathology, many technical difficulties are still encountered when investigating the role of α7 nAChRs. Electrophysiological analysis of the receptor upon heterologous expression or in human tissues was limited by the fast desensitization of α7-mediated nicotinic currents and by tissue availability. In addition, animal models for the human diseases related to α7 nAChRs have long been unavailable. The recent development of new imaging and analysis approaches such as PET and receptor microtransplantation have rendered the study of α7 nAChRs increasingly feasible, paving new roads to the design of therapeutic drugs. This review summarizes the current knowledge and recent findings obtained by these novel approaches.
Keywords: micro-transplantation, calcium detection, pet, α7-nAChR, intracellular, positron, tomography, emisision, desensitization, heterologous
Current Drug Targets
Title:Novel Approaches to Study the Involvement of α7-nAChR in Human Diseases
Volume: 13 Issue: 5
Author(s): Eleonora Palma, Luca Conti, Cristina Roseti and Cristina Limatola
Affiliation:
Keywords: micro-transplantation, calcium detection, pet, α7-nAChR, intracellular, positron, tomography, emisision, desensitization, heterologous
Abstract: The alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7 nAChR) is widely distributed in the human brain and has been implicated in a number of human central nervous system (CNS) diseases, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, schizophrenia and autism. Recently, new roles for α7 nAChRs in lung cancer and heart disease have been elucidated. Despite the importance of this receptor in human pathology, many technical difficulties are still encountered when investigating the role of α7 nAChRs. Electrophysiological analysis of the receptor upon heterologous expression or in human tissues was limited by the fast desensitization of α7-mediated nicotinic currents and by tissue availability. In addition, animal models for the human diseases related to α7 nAChRs have long been unavailable. The recent development of new imaging and analysis approaches such as PET and receptor microtransplantation have rendered the study of α7 nAChRs increasingly feasible, paving new roads to the design of therapeutic drugs. This review summarizes the current knowledge and recent findings obtained by these novel approaches.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Palma Eleonora, Conti Luca, Roseti Cristina and Limatola Cristina, Novel Approaches to Study the Involvement of α7-nAChR in Human Diseases , Current Drug Targets 2012; 13 (5) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138945012800398838
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138945012800398838 |
Print ISSN 1389-4501 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-5592 |
- 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
-
Platelets and Platelet-Derived Microvesicles as Immune Effectors in Type 2 Diabetes
Current Vascular Pharmacology Microparticles: From Biogenesis to Biomarkers and Diagnostic Tools in Cardiovascular Disease
Current Stem Cell Research & Therapy Myeloperoxidase: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Current Immunology Reviews (Discontinued) Enhancing Central Nervous System Endogenous GLP-1 Receptor Pathways for Intervention in Alzheimers Disease
Current Alzheimer Research The Role of Immunosuppressive Medications in the Pathogenesis of Hypertension and Efficacy and Safety of Antihypertensive Agents in Kidney Transplant Recipients
Current Medicinal Chemistry The Anti-inflammatory Potential of Selected Plant-derived Compounds in Respiratory Diseases
Current Pharmaceutical Design Editorial: Can Statins Mitigate the Adverse Cardiovascular Effects of Smoking?
Current Vascular Pharmacology Cardiovascular Effects of Coumarins Besides their Antioxidant Activity
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry HIF Inhibitors: New Hope for Cancer Therapy
Letters in Drug Design & Discovery Clinical Relevance of Postprandial Lipaemia
Current Medicinal Chemistry In Vivo, Cardiac-Specific Knockdown of a Target Protein, Malic Enzyme- 1, in Rat via Adenoviral Delivery of DNA for Non-Native miRNA
Current Gene Therapy Osteoporosis Entwined with Cardiovascular Disease: The Implication of Osteoprotegerin and the Example of Statins
Current Medicinal Chemistry Malondialdehyde and Superoxide Dismutase in High-dose Calcium Supplemented Women in Relation to Iron and Calcium Panels
Current Nutrition & Food Science Therapeutic Progress and Knowledge Basis on the Natriuretic Peptide System in Heart Failure
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Editorial [Hot Topic (1): Update on Inflammatory Processes Governing Atherosclerotic Plaque Vulnerability and Reperfusion Injury (Guest Editors: Fabrizio Montecucco and Francois Mach)]
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Cardiovascular Disease: What's All the AGE/RAGE About?
Cardiovascular & Hematological Disorders-Drug Targets Central Nervous System Agents Used as Trypanosoma cruzi Infection Chemotherapy: Phenothiazines and Related Compounds
Current Medicinal Chemistry - Anti-Infective Agents Molecular Function of Tocopherols in Age Related Diseases
Current Pharmaceutical Design Patent Selections
Recent Patents on Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Drug Discovery Current Drug Targets for Antihyperlipidemic Therapy
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry