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Published on: June 24, 2015
Expression of an alpha7 duplicate nicotinic acetylcholine receptor-related protein in human leukocytes
Y Villiger1, I Szanto, S Jaconi
1Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, CMU, 1 rue Michel Servet, CH-1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland.
Abstract:
We examined the potential expression and function of alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in leukocytes. RT-PCR with alpha7 specific primers revealed the presence of the receptor mRNA in leukocytes. Immunoblotting and immunofluorescence experiments demonstrated the expression of a protein that is recognized by alpha7 specific antibodies. However, nicotine and acetylcholine (ACh) failed to elicit current in leukocytes. Binding experiments with alpha-bungarotoxin rhodamine conjugated were negative, illustrating the absence of a high-affinity binding site. RT-PCR analysis revealed the selective expression of the dupalpha7 mRNA. These data indicate that leukocytes express in their membrane the dupalpha7 protein but its physiological role remains to be identified.
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