TY - JOUR
T1 - Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors
T2 - involvement in Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia.
AU - Woodruff-Pak, Diana S.
AU - Gould, Thomas J.
PY - 2002/3
Y1 - 2002/3
N2 - Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) play a role in a variety of diseases of the central nervous system including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and schizophrenia. There is great interest in evaluating disease-related nA ChR changes, and pharmacological treatment of nAChR deficits is a promising therapy. In AD, 7 nAChRs remain relatively stable, contrasting to 4 2 nAChRs that are lost in substantial numbers. -amyloid, a major neuropathology in AD, blocks 4 2 and 7 nAChRs. Agonists selective to 7nAChRs are neuroprotective against--amyloid. Paradoxically, 7nAChRs may function as receptors for -amyloid. These results indicate 7 nAChR antagonists may be appropriate therapy in AD. In schizophrenia, 7 nAChRs are significantly reduced in hippocampus and neocortex. The exceptionally high rate of smoking in schizophrenics is likely a form of self-medication. Therapy with 7 nAChR agonists relieves some schizophrenic symptoms. Despite disparities in etiology and symptomatology, AD and schizophrenia share a target for therapeutic intervention--7 nAChRs.
AB - Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) play a role in a variety of diseases of the central nervous system including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and schizophrenia. There is great interest in evaluating disease-related nA ChR changes, and pharmacological treatment of nAChR deficits is a promising therapy. In AD, 7 nAChRs remain relatively stable, contrasting to 4 2 nAChRs that are lost in substantial numbers. -amyloid, a major neuropathology in AD, blocks 4 2 and 7 nAChRs. Agonists selective to 7nAChRs are neuroprotective against--amyloid. Paradoxically, 7nAChRs may function as receptors for -amyloid. These results indicate 7 nAChR antagonists may be appropriate therapy in AD. In schizophrenia, 7 nAChRs are significantly reduced in hippocampus and neocortex. The exceptionally high rate of smoking in schizophrenics is likely a form of self-medication. Therapy with 7 nAChR agonists relieves some schizophrenic symptoms. Despite disparities in etiology and symptomatology, AD and schizophrenia share a target for therapeutic intervention--7 nAChRs.
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U2 - 10.1177/1534582302001001002
DO - 10.1177/1534582302001001002
M3 - Review article
C2 - 17715584
AN - SCOPUS:0345552469
SN - 1534-5823
VL - 1
SP - 5
EP - 20
JO - Behavioral and cognitive neuroscience reviews
JF - Behavioral and cognitive neuroscience reviews
IS - 1
ER -