Alpha 7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor modulates lymphocyte activation

AimsEven though the presence of α7 nicotinic receptor (nAChR) in lymphocytes has been demonstrated, its functional role still remains elusive. The aim of our study was to characterize α7 nAChRs in human lymphocytes upon phytohemagglutinin (PHA) stimulation.Main methodsLymphocytes were activated with the mitogen PHA. α7 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 [3H]-thymidine incorporation assay.Key findingsWe show that the expression of functional α7 receptors increases after PHA stimulation. The activation of peripheral lymphocytes by PHA increases 2.2-fold the α7 subunit mRNA expression and 4-fold the binding of the antagonist α-bungarotoxin (α-BTX) with respect to non activated lymphocytes. By measuring the increase of intracellular calcium in response to nicotine we determine that α7 receptors in lymphocytes are functional. Nicotinic drugs differentially modulate T cell activation. While nicotine tends to inhibit proliferative responses, specific α7 antagonists, such as α-BTX and methyllycaconitine, enhance cell division.SignificanceThis study reveals that the α7 receptor modulates lymphocyte activation and contributes to clarifying the role of the non neuronal cholinergic system in the immune response.