Activation of α7 nicotinic receptor affects APP processing by regulating secretase activity in SH-EP1-α7 nAChR-hAPP695 cells

Multiple lines of evidence have implicated that nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) may be an important therapeutic target for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although there are reports suggesting a link between alpha7 nAChR subtype and AD, there has been little report on the mechanism. The present study investigates whether and how α7 nAChR activation affects APP695 processing in SH-EP1 cell model. Cell line co-expressing α7 nAChR gene and human amyloid precursor protein 695 (hAPP695) gene were constructed by stable transfection. Expression of β-amyloid, α-form of secreted APP (αAPPs) and APP1695 was measured by ELISA, western blotting and real-time PCR respectively. Additionally, α, β, and γ-secretase activities were also analyzed in constructed SH-EP1-α7 nAChR-hAPP695 cell line. The results showed that SH-EP1-α7 nAChR-hAPP695 cell line, expressing both hAPP695 gene and α7 nAChR subtype gene, was constructed successfully. The secreted Aβ was decreased and αAPPs was significantly increased by non-selective nAChR agonist nicotine (10 μM) and specific α7 nAChR agonist GTS-21 (1 μM), and APP expression was not affected. Furthermore, specific α7 nAChR antagonist methyllycaconitine (MLA) reversed the alterations induced by activation of α7 nAChR. CTF-α was increased and CTF-γ was decreased when treated with nicotine (10 μM). In addition, the results of enymatic activity analysis showed that nicotine (1 μM) and GTS-21 (0.1, 1 μM) decreased γ-secretase activity, but has no effects on α-secretase activity and β-secretase activity. Our findings demonstrate that, through regulating γ-secretase activity, α7 nAChR activation reduces APP processing in amyloidogenic pathway, and at the same time enhances APP processing in non-amyloidogenic pathway. The constructed SH-EP1-α7 nAChR-hAPP695 cell line might be useful for screening specific nAChR agonists against AD.

Research Highlights
► Cell line co-expression α7 nAChR and hAPP695 was constructed successfully.
► nAChR agonists modulated APP procession SH-EP1-α7 nAChR-hAPP695 cell line.
► nAChR antagonist reversed the modulation of nAChR agonists on APP procession.
► γ-secretase activity and PSEN1 expression were decreased after α7 nAChR activation.
► γ-secretase inhibitor DAPT affected APP processing.