α7 nAChR in airway respiratory epithelial cells.
This review examines the role of α7 nAChR in different types of airway epithelial cells of the normal human bronchial tree. In each of these cells α7 nAChR activation elicits a specific effect. The effect is essentially mitogenic, whereas in the airway basal cells are antiproliferative. It is postulated that  α7 nAChR may have mitogenic or antiproliferative signals differentially activated in different types of airway cells and under exposure to exogenous stimuli such as nicotine.
IRCCS San Raffaele Pisana, Via di Valcannuta 247, I-00166 Roma, Italia. candida.nastrucci@yahoo.com
Candida
C
Nastrucci
Patrizia
P
Russo
D000818:Animals; D001980:Bronchi / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D006801:Humans; D008938:Mitosis / Q000502:physiology; D009538:Nicotine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000378:metabolism*; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D064569:alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor
C579167:Chrna7 protein, human; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; D064569:alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor; D009538:Nicotine