Mitochondria express several nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subtypes to control various pathways of apoptosis induction

- Mitochondria express α7β2, α3β2 and α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.
- Mitochondrial nicotinic receptor subtype distribution is tissue-specific.
- All three receptor subtypes are involved in regulating mitochondrial pore formation.
- α7β2 nicotinic receptors stimulate mainly intramitochondrial PI3K/Akt pathway.
- α3β2 and α4β2 nicotinic receptors also inhibit Src- and CaKMII-dependent pathways.