Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 28, 2026

Cigarette Smoke Exposure in Mice using a Whole-Body Inhalation System
Published on: October 22, 2020
Alpha-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor and tobacco smoke exposure: effects on bronchial hyperresponsiveness in
Tale M Torjussen1, Karin C Lødrup Carlsen, Monica C Munthe-Kaas
1National Centre for Epilepsy, Division of Clinical Neuroscience, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. t.m.torjussen@medisin.uio.no
Background:
The CHRNA 3 and 5 genes on chromosome 15 encode the alpha subunits of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, mediating airway cholinergic activity. Polymorphisms are associated with cigarette smoking, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lung cancer.
Aims:
To determine possible associations between CHRNA 3/5 SNP rs8034191 and asthma or lung function in children in one local and one replicate multinational population, and assess if tobacco smoke modified the associations.
Materials And Methods:
The rs8034191 SNP genotyped in 551 children from the environment and childhood asthma (ECA) birth cohort study in Oslo, Norway, and in 516 families from six European centers [the Genetics of Asthma International Network (GAIN) study] was tested for genotypic or allelic associations to current or history of asthma, allergic sensitization (≥ one positive skin prick tests), bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR), and lung function (FEV(1%) of predicted and FEV(1) /FVC ratio over/ below the 5th percentile).
Results:
Although the TT and CT genotypes at SNP rs 8034191 were overall significantly associated with BHR (OR = 3.9, 95% CI 1.5-10.0, p = 0.005), stratified analyses according to exposure to maternal smoking in-utero or indoor smoking at 10 yrs of age showed significant association (OR = 4.4, 95% CI 1.5-12.6, p = 0.006 and OR 5.6, 95% CI 1.7-18.5, p = 0.004, respectively) only in the non-exposed and not in exposed children. The SNP-BHR association was replicated in the non-tobacco-smoke-exposed subjects in one of the GAIN centers (BHR associated with the T allele (p = 0.034)), but not in the collated GAIN populations. Asthma, allergic sensitization, and lung function were not associated with the rs8034191 alleles.
Conclusion:
An interaction between tobacco smoke exposure and a CHRNA3/5 polymorphism was found for BHR in children, but CHRNA3/5 was not associated with asthma or lung function.
More Related Videos
09:50Impact Assessment of Repeated Exposure of Organotypic 3D Bronchial and Nasal Tissue Culture Models to Whole Cigarette Smoke
Published on: February 12, 2015
08:47Spectral Confocal Imaging of Fluorescently tagged Nicotinic Receptors in Knock-in Mice with Chronic Nicotine Administration
Published on: February 10, 2012
Related Concept Videos
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease III: Chronic Bronchitis Features
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...
Cholinergic Receptors: Nicotinic
There are two types of nicotinic receptors: neuromuscular (NM/NM/N1) and neuronal (NN/NN/N2). The two families differ based on their location and selectivity to...
Asthma I: Introduction
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-II: Pathophysiology
Chronic Inflammation
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease II: Emphysema