| 18393628 |
Hoogduijn MJ, Cheng A, Genever PG: Functional Nicotinic and Muscarinic Receptors on Mesenchymal Stem Cells. . Stem Cells Dev. 2008 Mar 10.
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are under the control of a large number of signalling systems. In this study, the presence and functionality of the acetylcholine signalling system in MSCs was examined. We detected expression of choline acetyltransferase, acetylcholinesterase and the presence of acetylcholine in MSCs. MSCs also expressed the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunits a3, a5, a7 and the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor 2 (M2-receptor). The M2-receptor and the nicotinic a7 receptor subunit were expressed on distinct subpopulations of cells, indicating differential regulation of cholinergic signalling between MSCs. Stimulation of MSCs with the nicotinic receptor agonist nicotine and the muscarinic receptor agonist muscarine induced immediate and transient increases in intracellular Ca2+ concentration. Furthermore, muscarine had an inhibiting effect on the production of the intracellular signalling molecule cAMP. The acetylcholinesterase inhibitor chlorpyrifos, which is widely used as an agricultural insecticide, had similar effects on intracellular Ca2+ and cAMP in MSCs. Nicotine, muscarine and chlorpyrifos induced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2. This study demonstrates that several components of a cholinergic signalling system are present and functional in MSCs. Environmental compounds such as nicotine and agricultural insecticides can interfere with this system and may affect cellular processes in the MSC. |
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