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Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor α7 subunit: a novel therapeutic target for cardiovascular diseases

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Abstract

Inflammation is important in the pathogenesis and development of cardiovascular diseases. Recent studies show that vagus nerve stimulation inhibits pro-inflammatory cytokine production through “the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway,” more specifically via the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR). In the current study, the role of the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway during septic shock, hypertension, and myocardial infarction is reviewed, and its possible clinical implications in cardiovascular diseases are discussed.

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  1. Department of Pharmacology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China

    Chong Liu & Dingfeng Su

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  1. Chong Liu
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  2. Dingfeng Su
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Correspondence to Dingfeng Su.

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Liu, C., Su, D. Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor α7 subunit: a novel therapeutic target for cardiovascular diseases. Front. Med. 6, 35–40 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11684-012-0171-0

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