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Nicotinic receptors and schizophrenia
Nadège Ripoll1, Marie Bronnec, Michel Bourin
1Neurobiology of Anxiety and Depression Research Group, Faculty of Medicine, University of Nantes, France.
Current Medical Research and Opinion
|July 22, 2004
Summary
Schizophrenia patients exhibit extremely high smoking rates (80-90%) compared to the general population. Nicotinic receptor disturbances, particularly alpha(7) subunits, are implicated in schizophrenia
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Pharmacology
Background:
- High smoking prevalence (80-90%) in schizophrenia patients compared to general population (25-30%) and other psychiatric disorders (35-54%).
- Tobacco use transiently improves cognitive and sensory deficits in schizophrenia.
- Smoking cessation can worsen schizophrenia symptoms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the involvement of the nicotinic system in schizophrenia.
- To explore the role of nicotinic receptors in schizophrenia pathophysiology.
Main Methods:
- Review of post-mortem binding studies on nicotinic receptor expression.
- Analysis of genetic linkage studies investigating nicotinic receptor subunits.
- Synthesis of existing research on smoking and schizophrenia.
Main Results:
- Disturbances in nicotinic receptor expression (alpha(7) and alpha(4)beta(2) subunits) found in various brain areas of schizophrenia patients.
- Genetic evidence links the alpha(7) nicotinic receptor subunit to schizophrenia.
- Nicotinic system dysfunction is a key feature in schizophrenia.
Conclusions:
- The nicotinic system plays a significant role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.
- Understanding nicotinic receptor involvement may offer novel therapeutic targets for schizophrenia.