Journal of Pharmacological Sciences
Online ISSN : 1347-8648
Print ISSN : 1347-8613
ISSN-L : 1347-8613
Short Communications
Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor α7 Subunit Mediates Migration of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells Toward Nicotine
Sheng LiTiejun ZhaoHong XinLi-Hong YeXiaodong ZhangHideyuki TanakaAkio NakamuraKazuhiro Kohama
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2004 Volume 94 Issue 3 Pages 334-338

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Abstract

GbaSM-4 cells, vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) derived from brain basilar arteries, were shown to migrate toward d-nicotine by augmenting the actin cytoskeleton in their cell bodies and lamellipodia, and expression of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7-nAChR) was detected in GbaSM-4 cells. Their chemotaxis was antagonized by an α7-nAChR antagonist of methyllycaconitine. It was also antagonized by inhibiting myosin light chain (MLC) kinase and by down-regulating MLC kinase. However, the changes in MLC phosphorylation were not associated with the nicotine treatment, suggesting the involvement of non-kinase activity of MLC kinase as reviewed by Gao et al. (IUBMB Life. 2001;51:337). This plot may work to induce arteriosclerosis during cigarette smoking.

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© The Japanese Pharmacological Society 2004
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