The role of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in lymphocyte development

The sizes of lymphocyte populations in lymphoid organs of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor knockout and chimera (knockout/wild-type) mice were studied by flow cytometry. The absence of β2 subunit decreased, while nicotine treatment increased B lymphocyte numbers in the bone marrow. In chimera mice, either β2 or α7 subunits influenced lymphocyte populations in primary lymphoid organs, while in the spleen, only α7 receptors were critical. More annexin V-positive B cells were found in the bone marrow of knockout than wild-type animals. We conclude that nicotinic receptors are involved in regulating lymphocyte development and control the B lymphocyte survival.