Novel signaling pathways and anti-inflammatory roles of. 7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in microglia

在脑小胶质细胞中，α7烟碱受体激活通过酪氨酸激酶依赖的代谢性途径诱导细胞内钙库释放钙。这种钙反应在酸性条件或氧化应激条件下被增强，从而抑制内毒素(LPS)诱导的炎性细胞因子的产生。脂多糖刺激还可促进小胶质细胞的长期存活和保护功能，如吞噬功能。由于α7烟碱受体在促进小胶质细胞的保护功能中发挥作用，该受体亚型可能是脑炎性疾病的潜在靶点。

In brain microglia, alpha 7 nicotinic receptor activation induced calcium release from intracellular calcium stores through tyrosine-kinase-dependent metabotropic pathways. This calcium response was enhanced under acidic condition or oxidative stress and thereby suppressed lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced production of inflammatory cytokines. LPS stimulation also promotes long survival and protective function such as phagocytosis in microglia. Since alpha 7 nicotinic receptors play a role in facilitating protective function in microglia, this receptor subtype may be a potential target for brain inflammatory diseases.