Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Signaling in Neuroprotection

Akinori AkaikeDepartment of Pharmacology, Kyoto University, Japan  Shun ShimohamaDepartment of Neurology, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Japan  Yoshimi MisuGraduate School of Medicine, Yokohama City University, Japan

• 1.Overview.- 2.In vivo imaging of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the central nervous system.- 3.A new aspect of cholinergic transmission in the central nervous system.- 4.Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor signaling: roles in neuroprotection.- 5.Regulation by nicotinic acetylcholine receptors of microglial glutamate transporters: role of microglia in neuroprotection.- 6.Shati/Nat8l and N-acetylaspartate (NAA) have important roles in regulating nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in neuronal and psychiatric diseases in animal models and humans.- 7.Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in regulation of pathology of cerebrovascular disorders.- 8.Roles of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the pathology and treatment of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.- 9.SAK3-induced neuroprotection is mediated by nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.- 10.Removal of blood amyloid as a therapeutic strategy for Alzheimer’s disease: the influence of smoking and nicotine.