title: Smoking upregulates alpha4beta2* nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the human brain.
abstract: The role of the alpha4beta2* nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) in tobacco addiction in humans is largely unresolved. We visualized brain alpha4beta2* nicotinic acetylcholine receptors of smokers and non-smokers with positron emission tomography using 2-[(18)F]fluoro-3-(2(S)azetidinylmethoxy)pyridine, commonly known as 2-[(18)F]F-A-85380. The total brain distribution volume of 2-[(18)F]F-A-85380 was significantly increased in smokers. Statistical parametric mapping revealed that the most prominent regional differences of distribution volumes (DV) were found in cerebellum and brainstem with an increased uptake in smokers. The up-regulation of alpha4beta2* nAChR upon chronic nicotine exposure via tobacco smoking incorporates subcortical brain regions which may play an important role in nicotine addiction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University Bonn, Sigmund Freud Strasse 25, 53105 Bonn, Germany. wuellner@uni-bonn.de
authors.forename: Ullrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Wüllner
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gündisch
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Herzog
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Minnerop
authors.forename: Alexis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Joe
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Warnecke
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jessen
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schütz
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reinhardt
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Eschner
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Klockgether
authors.forename: Joern
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schmaljohann
mesh_terms: D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000378:metabolism*; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; C403531:nicotinic receptor alpha4beta2