title: α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor as a potential therapeutic target for schizophrenia.
abstract: Accumulating evidence suggests that the α7 subtype of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) plays a role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Deficits in auditory P50 evoked potential suppression in patients with schizophrenia are associated with decreased density of α7 nAChRs in the brain. Some agonists (e.g., DMXB-A and tropisetron) at α7 nAChRs can improve P50 deficits in patients with schizophrenia. Together, these findings indicate that α7 nAChRs are a potential therapeutic target for schizophrenia. Currently, a number of agonists and allosteric modulators at α7 nAChRs are under development as potential therapeutic drugs. In this article, we review recent topics on α7 nAChR agonists and α7 nAChR allosteric modulators as therapeutic drugs for schizophrenia.
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Neuroscience, Chiba University Center for Forensic Mental Health, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chiba 260-8670, Japan.
authors.forename: Masatomo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ishikawa
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
mesh_terms: D000494:Allosteric Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005072:Evoked Potentials, Auditory; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000378:metabolism*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D064569:alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor
chemical_list: C579167:Chrna7 protein, human; C579166:Chrna7 protein, mouse; C579165:Chrna7 protein, rat; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; D064569:alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor