Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Using Nicotine in a Silica-Exposed Mouse Model to Promote Lung Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition
06:12

Using Nicotine in a Silica-Exposed Mouse Model to Promote Lung Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition

Published on: March 3, 2023

Multiple roles of nicotine on cell proliferation and inhibition of apoptosis: implications on lung carcinogenesis

A Catassi1, D Servent, L Paleari

  • 1Cancer Unit, National Cancer Research Institute, Genoa, Italy.

Mutation Research
|May 23, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Nicotine, a tobacco component, may promote lung cancer progression by activating nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) on lung cells. Further research is needed to understand nicotine's role in lung carcinogenesis.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Cell Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Genotoxic effects of tobacco carcinogens are known, but the role of tobacco components in cancer via cell surface receptor signaling is underexplored.
  • Nicotine, a primary tobacco alkaloid, interacts with nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR).
  • nAChRs are present on human lung airway epithelial cells and lung cancer cells (SCLC, NSCLC), potentially driving neoplastic cell growth.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the role of nicotine and its interaction with nAChR in lung cancer promotion and progression.
  • To investigate the implications of nicotine's effects on pulmonary cell growth and physiology in lung carcinogenesis.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing studies on nicotine, nAChR, and lung cell physiology.
  • Analysis of nAChR subunit gene expression patterns in lung cancer from smokers versus non-smokers.

Main Results:

  • Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) are functionally expressed on lung carcinoma cells, contributing to a proliferative network.
  • Distinct nAChR subunit gene expression exists between smokers' and non-smokers' non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
  • While not directly carcinogenic, nicotine promotes in vivo cancer cell and endothelial cell proliferation, suggesting a role in tumor progression.

Conclusions:

  • Nicotine may play a direct role in the promotion and progression of human lung cancers.
  • Understanding nicotine-nAChR interactions is crucial for investigating lung carcinogenesis mechanisms.

More Related Videos

Isolation of Mouse Respiratory Epithelial Cells and Exposure to Experimental Cigarette Smoke at Air Liquid Interface10:47

Isolation of Mouse Respiratory Epithelial Cells and Exposure to Experimental Cigarette Smoke at Air Liquid Interface

Published on: February 21, 2011

Methods to Evaluate Cytotoxicity and Immunosuppression of Combustible Tobacco Product Preparations09:25

Methods to Evaluate Cytotoxicity and Immunosuppression of Combustible Tobacco Product Preparations

Published on: January 10, 2015

Related Concept Videos

Drugs Acting on Autonomic Ganglia: Stimulants01:23

Drugs Acting on Autonomic Ganglia: Stimulants


Ganglionic stimulants activate NM nicotinic receptors in autonomic ganglia, falling into two categories: nicotine mimetics [e.g., lobeline, dimethylpiperazine, tetramethylammonium] and muscarinic receptor agonists [e.g., muscarine, methacholine]. The first category's action is rapid and blocked by nicotinic receptor antagonists, while the second category's action is delayed and blocked by atropine-like agents. Nicotine, an alkaloid, affects the heart rate by stimulating sympathetic or...
Stimulants01:29

Stimulants

Stimulants are substances that enhance neural activity and elevate dopamine levels in the brain, leading to their highly addictive nature. These drugs include cocaine, amphetamines, MDMA, caffeine, and nicotine, each with distinct mechanisms of action and varied health implications.
Cocaine can be administered via snorting, injection, or smoking. It primarily functions by blocking the reuptake of dopamine, resulting in a euphoric high characterized by an intense sensation of happiness and...
Mutagenicity and Carcinogenicity01:25

Mutagenicity and Carcinogenicity

Mutagenicity and carcinogenicity refer to the ability of drugs to cause genetic defects and induce cancer, respectively. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies agents into four groups based on their carcinogenic potential. Group 1 agents are known human carcinogens; group 2A agents are probably carcinogenic to humans; group 3 agents lack data to support their role in carcinogenesis; and group 4 includes agents for which data support that they are not likely to be...
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease III: Chronic Bronchitis Features01:24

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease III: Chronic Bronchitis Features

Chronic bronchitis is a key phenotype of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), characterized by airway-centered inflammation and mucus overproduction. It develops from long-term exposure to harmful particles or gases, most commonly cigarette smoke, which triggers a persistent inflammatory response.Cellular and Structural ChangesInflammation initially affects the large bronchi and later the smaller airways, with infiltration by immune cells, including neutrophils, macrophages, and...
Interactions Between Signaling Pathways01:19

Interactions Between Signaling Pathways

Signaling cascades usually lack linearity. Multiple pathways interact and regulate one another, allowing cells to integrate and respond to diverse environmental stimuli.
Convergence and divergence, and cross-talk between signaling pathways
Two distinct signaling pathways can converge on a single functional unit, which may either be a single protein or a complex of proteins. The response is either functionally distinct or synergistic between the two pathways but different from the response...
Mitogens and the Cell Cycle02:38

Mitogens and the Cell Cycle

Mitogens and their receptors play a crucial role in controlling the progression of the cell cycle. However, the loss of mitogenic control over cell division leads to tumor formation. Therefore, mitogens and mitogen receptors play an important role in cancer research. For instance, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) - a type of mitogen and its transmembrane receptor (EGFR), decides the fate of the cell's proliferation. When EGF binds to EGFR, a member of the ErbB family of tyrosine kinase...