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T1 Role of the α7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor in the Pathophysiology of Atherosclerosis
A1 Vieira Alves, Ildernandes
A1 Coimbra Campos, Leda M. C.
A1 Sancho González, María
A1 Fernandes da Silva, Rafaela
A1 Cortes, Steyner F.
A1 Soares Lemos, Virgínia
AB Atherosclerosis constitutes a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. This slowly progressing, chronic inflammatory disorder of large- and medium-sized arteries involves complex recruitment of immune cells, lipid accumulation, and vascular structural remodeling. The α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR) is expressed in several cell types involved in the genesis and progression of atherosclerosis, including macrophages, dendritic cells, T and B cells, vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Recently, the α7nAChR has been described as an essential regulator of inflammation as this receptor mediates the inhibition of cytokine synthesis through the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway, a mechanism involved in the attenuation of atherosclerotic disease. Aside from the neuronal cholinergic control of inflammation, the non-neuronal cholinergic system similarly regulates the immune function. Acetylcholine released from T cells acts in an autocrine/paracrine fashion at the α7nAChR of various immune cells to modulate immune function. This mechanism additionally has potential implications in reducing atherosclerotic plaque formation. In contrast, the activation of α7nAChR is linked to the induction of angiogenesis and VSMC proliferation, which may contribute to the progression of atherosclerosis. Therefore, both atheroprotective and pro-atherogenic roles are attributed to the stimulation of α7nAChRs, and their role in the genesis and progression of atheromatous plaque is still under debate. This minireview highlights the current knowledge on the involvement of the α7nAChR in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis.
PB Frontiers Media SA
SN 1664-042X
YR 2020
FD 2020-12-23
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/120825
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/120825
LA eng
NO Vieira-Alves I, Coimbra-Campos LMC, Sancho M, da Silva RF, Cortes SF, Lemos VS. Role of the α7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor in the Pathophysiology of Atherosclerosis. Front Physiol. 2020 Dec 23;11:621769.
NO Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais, Brazil
NO Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, Brazil
NO Pro-reitoria de Pesquisa (PRPq) – Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais
DS Docta Complutense
RD 26 dic 2025