Acetylcholine signaling system in progression of lung cancers

Publication date: Available online 3 October 2018Source: Pharmacology & TherapeuticsAuthor(s): Jamie R. Friedman, Stephen D. Richbart, Justin C. Merritt, Kathleen C. Brown, Nicholas A. Nolan, Austin T. Akers, Jamie K. Lau, Zachary R. Robateau, Sarah L. Miles, Piyali DasguptaAbstractThe neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh) acts as an autocrine growth factor for human lung cancer. Several lines of evidence show that lung cancer cells express all of the proteins required for the uptake of choline (choline transporter 1, choline transporter-like proteins) synthesis of ACh (choline acetyltransferase, carnitine acetyltransferase), transport of ACh (vesicular acetylcholine transport, OCTs, OCTNs) and degradation of ACh (acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase). The released ACh binds back to nicotinic (nAChRs) and muscarinic receptors on lung cancer cells to accelerate their proliferation, migration and invasion. Out of all components of the cholinergic pathway, the nAChR-signaling has been studied the most intensely. The reason for this trend is due to genome-wide data studies showing that nicotinic receptor subtypes are involved in lung cancer risk, the relationship between cigarette smoke and lung cancer risk as well as the rising popularity of electronic cigarettes considered by many as a “safe” alternative to smoking. There are a small number of review articles which review the contribution of the other cholinergic proteins in the pathophysiology of lung cancer. The pri...
Source: Pharmacology and Therapeutics - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research