Activation of α7nAChR by Nicotine Reduced the Th17 Response in CD4+T Lymphocytes. (October 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liu, Zhigang; Han, Bo; Li, Peijie; Wang, Zie; Fan, Qing
• Is Part Of: Immunological investigations. Volume 43:Number 7(2014)
• Page Start: 667
• Page End: 674
• Publication Date: 2014-10
• Subjects: Immunology -- Periodicals; Immunochemistry -- Periodicals; Cellular immunity -- Periodicals; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; 616.079
• DOI: 10.3109/08820139.2014.914532
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0882-0139

Abstract

<abstract> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p> <italic>Background</italic>: nAChRs play an important role in the regulation and modulation of immune cell proliferation, differentiation, migration and cell-cell interactions. The present study was to characterize the expression of α7nAChR on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (hPBMC) and CD4<sup>+</sup>T lymphocytes, and to explore the change of Th17 expression after activation of α7nAChR on human CD4<sup>+</sup>T lymphocytes.</p> <p> <italic>Methods</italic>: A Ficoll gradient was used to separate hPBMC from whole blood, and then CD4<sup>+</sup>T lymphocytes were isolated by magnetic bead separation. The expression of α7nAChR on PBMC and CD4<sup>+</sup>T lymphocytes was analyzed using flow cytometry before and after stimulation with phytohemagglutinin (PHA). The effect of α7nAChR stimulation by nicotine or inhibition by α-bungarotoxin (α-BTX), as well as Th17 expression on the phenotype of CD4<sup>+</sup>T cells was evaluated using flow cytometric analysis.</p> <p> <italic>Results</italic>: The percentage of CD4<sup>+</sup>T cells in reduced PBMC, while the expression of α7nAChR increased when cells were stimulated by nicotine. This effect vanished when co-treated with nicotine and α-BTX. α7nAChR was found to expressed in about 90% of CD4<sup>+</sup>T cells. However, α7nAChR expression reduced to 80% on CD4<sup>+</sup>T cells after stimulation with PHA for 24 h. Stimulation of α7nAChR with nicotine increased the expression of Th17 cells, and this upregulation reduced when AChRα7 was inhibited by α-BTX.</p> <p> <italic>Conclusion</italic>: α7nAChR was ubiquitously expressed by CD4<sup>+</sup>T lymphocytes, which was correlated with the cell activation status. Meanwhile, activation of nAChRα7 by nicotine in CD4 cells reduced the Th17 response.</p> </abstract>