title: Nicotine: specific role in angiogenesis, proliferation and apoptosis.
abstract: Nowadays, tobacco smoking is the cause of ~5-6 million deaths per year, counting 31% and 6% of all cancer deaths (affecting 18 different organs) in middle-aged men and women, respectively. Nicotine is the addictive component of tobacco acting on neuronal nicotinic receptors (nAChR). Functional nAChR, are also present on endothelial, haematological and epithelial cells. Although nicotine itself is regularly not referred to as a carcinogen, there is an ongoing debate whether nicotine functions as a 'tumour promoter'. Nicotine, with its specific binding to nAChR, deregulates essential biological processes like regulation of cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, invasion, angiogenesis, inflammation and cell-mediated immunity in a wide variety of cells including foetal (regulation of development), embryonic and adult stem cells, adult tissues as well as cancer cells. Nicotine seems involved in fundamental aspects of the biology of malignant diseases, as well as of neurodegeneration. Investigating the biological effects of nicotine may provide new tools for therapeutic interventions and for the understanding of neurodegenerative diseases and tumour biology.
authors: IRCCS San Raffaele Pisana, Rome, Italy.
authors: Alessio
authors: A
authors: Cardinale
authors: Candida
authors: C
authors: Nastrucci
authors: Alfredo
authors: A
authors: Cesario
authors: Patrizia
authors: P
authors: Russo
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D009538:Nicotine / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity*; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011485:Protein Binding; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; D009538:Nicotine