Jichu yixue yu linchuang (Jul 2021)

Advances in mechanism of nicotine addiction

  • JIAO Yang, JIA Ying, ZHU Ping, ZHANG Qian, MA Xiao-li

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 41, no. 7
pp. 1060 – 1065

Abstract

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Nicotine(NIC) plays a role in the brain through nicotinic acetylcholine receptors(nAChRs). nAChRs are ligand-gated ion channel composed of five transmembrane subunits. Mammals contain nine α subunits (α2～α10) and three β subunits (β2～β4). The α4 and the nAChRs subtype of β2 subunit (α4β2-nAChR), in brain tissue mediate many behaviors related to NIC addiction. Recent studies have shown that α7, α5 and α6-nAChR play an important role in regulating NIC addiction. Genetic variations in the CHRNA5-CHRNA3-CHRNB4 gene clusters encoding α5, α3, and β4 increase the susceptibility to tobacco dependence and smoking-related diseases (including lung cancer). The expression of α5 or β4 subunits in mouse brain tissue changes the consumption pattern of NIC. In addition, the effects of NIC on appetite, attention and emotion are related to the establishment and maintenance of smoking habits.

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