1)国家烟草质量监督检验中心,烟草生物学效应重点实验室,郑州 450001;2)北京生命科技研究院,北京 102200
北京生命科技研究院(2023000CB0030,2023100CC0180)资助项目。
1)Key Laboratory of Tobacco Biological Effects, China National Tobacco Quality Supervision &Test Center, Zhengzhou450001, China;2)Beijing Life Science Academy, Beijing102200, China
This work was supported by grants from the Beijing Institute of Life Science and Technology (2023000CB0030, 2023100CC0180).
随着全球人口老龄化的加剧, 阿尔茨海默病 (Alzheimer’s disease, AD) 发病率持续上升, 目前已成为最常见的神经退行性疾病之一。尽管研究人员对AD的病理特征有深入的了解,如淀粉样斑块、Tau蛋白异常磷酸化形成神经元纤维缠结等,但其确切的病因和发病机制仍不完全清楚。α7烟碱型乙酰胆碱受体(α7nAChR)是中枢神经系统中重要的乙酰胆碱受体亚型,广泛分布于大脑的多个区域,尤其是与学习和记忆相关的海马和皮质区域,在神经递质释放、神经可塑性、细胞信号转导以及炎症反应中发挥重要功能。近年来,α7nAChR在AD中的作用受到广泛关注。研究表明,α7nAChR参与β淀粉样蛋白(amyloid β-protein,Aβ)代谢、Tau蛋白磷酸化、神经炎症反应、氧化应激等AD发病进程中的多个重要环节,提示α7nAChR在AD的发病机制中扮演着重要角色,有望作为AD潜在治疗靶点。本综述旨在总结α7nAChR与AD发病的关联及其研究进展,为未来的疾病治疗提供可能的研究方向。
As the global population continues to age, the incidence of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases, continues to rise significantly. As the disease progresses, the patient’s daily living abilities gradually decline, potentially leading to a complete loss of self-care abilities. According to estimates by the Alzheimer’s Association and the World Health Organization, AD accounts for 60%-70% of all other dementia cases, affecting over 55 million people worldwide. The case number is estimated to double by 2050. Despite extensive research, the precise etiology and pathogenesis of AD remain elusive. Researchers have a profound understanding of the disease’s pathological hallmarks, which include amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles resulting from the abnormal phosphorylation of Tau protein. However, the exact causes and mechanisms of the disease are still not fully understood, leaving a vital gap in our knowledge and understanding of this debilitating disease. A crucial player that has recently emerged in the field of AD research is the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR). α7nAChR is composed of five identical α7 subunits that form a homopentamer. This receptor is a significant subtype of acetylcholine receptor in the central nervous system and is widely distributed in various regions of the brain. It is particularly prevalent in the hippocampus and cortical areas, which are regions associated with learning and memory. α7nAChR plays a pivotal role in several neurological processes, including neurotransmitter release, neuronal plasticity, cell signal transduction, and inflammatory response, suggesting its potential involvement in numerous neurodegenerative diseases, including AD. In recent years, the role of α7nAChR in AD has been the focus of extensive research. Emerging evidence suggests that α7nAChR is involved in several critical steps in the disease progression of AD. These include involvement in the metabolism of amyloid β-protein (Aβ), the phosphorylation of Tau protein, neuroinflammatory response, and oxidative stress. Each of these processes contributes to the development and progression of AD, and the involvement of α7nAChR in these processes suggests that it may play a crucial role in the disease’s pathogenesis. The potential significance of α7nAChR in AD is further reinforced by the observation that alterations in its function or expression can have significant effects on cognitive abilities. These findings suggest that α7nAChR could be a promising target for therapeutic intervention in AD. At present, the results of drug clinical studies targeting α7nAChR show that these compounds have improvement and therapeutic effects in AD patients, but they have not reached the degree of being widely used in clinical practice, and their drug development still faces many challenges. Therefore, more research is needed to fully understand its role and to develop effective treatments based on this understanding. This review aims to summarize the current understanding of the association between α7nAChR and AD pathogenesis. We provide an overview of the latest research developments and insights, and highlight potential avenues for future research. As we deepen our understanding of the role of α7nAChR in AD, it is hoped that this will pave the way for the development of novel therapeutic strategies for this devastating disease. By targeting α7nAChR, we may be able to develop more effective treatments for AD, ultimately improving the quality of life for patients and their families.
丁道波,牟文君,李鑫,陈欢,侯宏卫,胡清源.α7烟碱型乙酰胆碱受体在阿尔茨海默病中的作用[J].生物化学与生物物理进展,2024,51(11):2897-2904
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