title: The role of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in lymphocyte development.
abstract: 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 beta2 subunit decreased, while nicotine treatment increased B lymphocyte numbers in the bone marrow. In chimera mice, either beta2 or alpha7 subunits influenced lymphocyte populations in primary lymphoid organs, while in the spleen, only alpha7 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Immunology, Palladin Institute of Biochemistry, 01601 Kiev, Ukraine. skok@biochem.kiev.ua
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Skok
authors.forename: Regis
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Grailhe
authors.forename: Fabien
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Agenes
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Changeux
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D002452:Cell Count / Q000379:methods; D048708:Cell Growth Processes / Q000502:physiology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009538:Nicotine / Q000494:pharmacology; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D011828:Radiation Chimera / Q000502:physiology; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000172:deficiency / Q000502:physiology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D013935:Thymic Factor, Circulating / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D064569:alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D009538:Nicotine; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; D013935:Thymic Factor, Circulating; D064569:alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor; C579166:Chrna7 protein, mouse