Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors: upregulation, age-related effects and associations with drug use

Genes, Brain, and Behavior
W E Melroy-GreifMarissa A Ehringer

Abstract

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors are ligand-gated ion channels that exogenously bind nicotine. Nicotine produces rewarding effects by interacting with these receptors in the brain's reward system. Unlike other receptors, chronic stimulation by an agonist induces an upregulation of receptor number that is not due to increased gene expression in adults; while upregulation also occurs during development and adolescence there have been some opposing findings regarding a change in corresponding gene expression. These receptors have also been well studied with regard to human genetic associations and, based on evidence suggesting shared genetic liabilities between substance use disorders, numerous studies have pointed to a role for this system in comorbid drug use. This review will focus on upregulation of these receptors in adulthood, adolescence and development, as well as the findings from human genetic association studies which point to different roles for these receptors in risk for initiation and continuation of drug use.

References

Jul 1, 1978·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·M D NobleJ H Peacock
Jun 1, 1990·Trends in Pharmacological Sciences·S Wonnacott
Nov 1, 1987·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·J BoulterJ Patrick
Jan 1, 1989·Progress in Brain Research·K J KellarM D Lumpkin
Jan 1, 1987·Psychopharmacology·P B Clarke
May 20, 1988·JAMA : the Journal of the American Medical Association·P Gunby
Jan 1, 1981·Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology·I Creese, D R Sibley
Jan 1, 1995·Psychopharmacology·I P Stolerman, M J Jarvis
Apr 1, 1994·Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior·J L van de Kamp, A C Collins
Jun 1, 1993·Drug and Alcohol Dependence·J E HenningfieldE D London
Aug 1, 1995·Drug and Alcohol Dependence·R W PickensM C LaBuda
Jan 1, 1995·Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders·J Court, F Clementi
Jul 26, 1996·The Journal of Biological Chemistry·F WangJ Lindstrom
Jan 1, 1996·Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology·N L Benowitz
Jan 1, 1996·Ion Channels·J Lindstrom
Jun 1, 1997·The British Journal of Psychiatry : the Journal of Mental Science·K S KendlerR C Kessler
Jan 4, 1998·Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior·E J PopkeN E Grunberg
Jun 23, 1998·The Journal of Biological Chemistry·P J Groot-KormelinkL G Sivilotti
Nov 18, 1998·Archives of General Psychiatry·K R MerikangasB J Rounsaville
Apr 28, 1999·Psychological Medicine·K S KendlerC A Prescott
Jul 13, 1999·Archives of General Psychiatry·W R TrueM Tsuang

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Sep 11, 2016·Nicotine & Tobacco Research : Official Journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco·Whitney E Melroy-GreifMarissa A Ehringer
Jan 24, 2018·Journal of Applied Physiology·Neil A KellyMarcas M Bamman
Apr 23, 2019·Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology : the Official Journal of the National Academy of Neuropsychologists·Megan M KangiserKrista M Lisdahl
Aug 9, 2017·American Journal of Medical Genetics. Part B, Neuropsychiatric Genetics : the Official Publication of the International Society of Psychiatric Genetics·Chiara Fabbri, Alessandro Serretti
Jan 15, 2016·Genes, Brain, and Behavior·Andrew Holmes
Dec 24, 2019·Nicotine & Tobacco Research : Official Journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco·Megan E PiperNatalie Walker
Jun 15, 2018·BMC Developmental Biology·Melanie MorrisNorma Andrea Velazquez-Ulloa
Oct 31, 2020·Bioelectronic Medicine·Anne S Ten HoveWouter J de Jonge
Jan 12, 2021·Journal of Neurophysiology·Thiago S MoreiraAna C Takakura
Dec 10, 2020·Bioelectronic Medicine·Anne S Ten HoveWouter J de Jonge
Apr 28, 2021·Progress in Neuro-psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry·Luisa PonzoniMariaelvina Sala
Mar 21, 2021·Journal of Neurochemistry·Lauren Wills, Paul J Kenny

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.