Alpha 7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor modulates lymphocyte activation

Aims: Even though the presence of alpha 7 nicotinic receptor (nAChR) in lymphocytes has been demonstrated, its functional role still remains elusive. The aim of our study was to characterize alpha nAChRs in human lymphocytes upon phytohemagglutinin (PHA) stimulation. Main methods: Lymphocytes were activated with the mitogen PHA. alpha 7 nAChRs were studied by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), real time PCR, flow cytometry and confocal laser scanning microscopy. The effects of nicotinic drugs on PHA-induced proliferation was evaluated by the [H-3]-thymidine incorporation assay. Key findings: We show that the expression of functional alpha 7 receptors increases after PHA stimulation. The activation of peripheral lymphocytes by PHA increases 2.2-fold the alpha 7 subunit mRNA expression and 4-fold the binding of the antagonist alpha-bungarotoxin (alpha-BTX) with respect to non activated lymphocytes. By measuring the increase of intracellular calcium in response to nicotine we determine that alpha 7 receptors in lymphocytes are functional. Nicotinic drugs differentially modulate T cell activation. While nicotine tends to inhibit proliferative responses, specific alpha 7 antagonists, such as alpha-BTX and methyllycaconitine, enhance cell division. Significance: This study reveals that the alpha 7 receptor modulates lymphocyte activation and contributes to clarifying the role of the non neuronal cholinergic system in the immune response. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.