Neurotransmitter Receptor-Mediated Signaling Pathways as Modulators of Carcinogenesis

摘要: The autonomic nervous system with its two antagonistic branches, the sympathicus and parasympathicus, regulates activities of all body functions that are not under voluntary control. While regulation organ has been extensively studied, little attention given to potential role neurohumoral transmission at cellular level in development cancer. Studies conducted by our laboratory first showed binding parasympathetic neurotransmitter, acetylcholine, as well nicotine or nitrosated cancer-causing derivative, NNK, nicotinic acetylcholine receptors comprised alpha7 subunits activated a mitogenic signal transduction pathway normal neoplastic pulmonary neuroendocrine cells. On other hand, beta-adrenergic (Beta-ARs), which transmit signals initiated catecholamine neurotransmitters sympathicus, were identified important regulators cell proliferation lines derived from human adenocarcinomas lungs, pancreas, breast. tobacco-specific carcinogen NNK bound high affinity Beta1- Beta2-ARs, thus activating cAMP, protein kinase A, transcription factor CREB. Collectively, neurotransmitter Beta-adrenergic families appear regulate essential for survival most common cancers.