Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors: specific antibodies and functions in humoral immunity

Abstract

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are ligand-gated ion channels initially discovered in muscles and neurons and further found in many non-excitable cells. The present review summarizes the results of studies performed in the Department of Molecular Immunology during the last decade and concerning the structure and functions of nAChRs in B lymphocytes and in mitochondria, as well as the role of nAChR-specific antibodies in the develop­ment of neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer disease.

Keywords

• Alzheimer’s disease
• antibodies
• B lymphocytes
• mitochondria
• nicotinic acetylcholine receptors