TY - GEN
T1 - Nicotinic Cholinergic Mechanisms in Alzheimer's Disease
AU - Shen, Jianxin
AU - Wu, Jie
PY - 2015
Y1 - 2015
N2 - Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative condition characterized by increased accumulation of Aβ and degeneration of cholinergic signaling between basal forebrain and hippocampus. Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are important mediators of cholinergic signaling in modulation of learning and memory function. Accumulating lines of evidence indicate that a nAChR subtype, α7 receptor (α7-nAChR), plays an important role in modulations of excitatory neurotransmitter release, improvement of learning and memory ability, and enhancement of cognitive function. Importantly, the expression and function of α7-nAChRs is altered in the brain of AD animal models and AD patients, suggesting that this nAChR subtype participates in AD pathogenesis and may serve as a novel therapeutic target for AD treatment. However, the mechanisms underlying the role of α7-nAChRs in AD pathogenesis are very complex, and either neuroprotective effects or neurotoxic effects may occur through the α7-nAChRs. These effects depend on the levels of α7-nAChR expression and function, disease stages, or the use of α7-nAChR agonists, antagonists, or allosteric modulators. In this chapter, we summarize recent progresses in the roles of α7-nAChRs played in AD pathogenesis and therapy.
AB - Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative condition characterized by increased accumulation of Aβ and degeneration of cholinergic signaling between basal forebrain and hippocampus. Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are important mediators of cholinergic signaling in modulation of learning and memory function. Accumulating lines of evidence indicate that a nAChR subtype, α7 receptor (α7-nAChR), plays an important role in modulations of excitatory neurotransmitter release, improvement of learning and memory ability, and enhancement of cognitive function. Importantly, the expression and function of α7-nAChRs is altered in the brain of AD animal models and AD patients, suggesting that this nAChR subtype participates in AD pathogenesis and may serve as a novel therapeutic target for AD treatment. However, the mechanisms underlying the role of α7-nAChRs in AD pathogenesis are very complex, and either neuroprotective effects or neurotoxic effects may occur through the α7-nAChRs. These effects depend on the levels of α7-nAChR expression and function, disease stages, or the use of α7-nAChR agonists, antagonists, or allosteric modulators. In this chapter, we summarize recent progresses in the roles of α7-nAChRs played in AD pathogenesis and therapy.
KW - Alzheimer's disease
KW - Amyloid β peptides
KW - Learning and memory deficits
KW - Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors
KW - Toxicity
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84945405611&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84945405611&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/bs.irn.2015.08.002
DO - 10.1016/bs.irn.2015.08.002
M3 - Conference contribution
C2 - 26472533
AN - SCOPUS:84945405611
SN - 9780128015834
T3 - International Review of Neurobiology
SP - 275
EP - 292
BT - Nicotine Use in Mental Illness and Neurological Disorders, 2015
A2 - De Biasi, Mariella
PB - Academic Press Inc.
ER -