Role of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor α3 subtype in vascular inflammation.

Vascular inflammation is a major factor contributing to the development of vascular diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor α3 subtype (α3-nAChR) in vascular inflammation. Vascular inflammation was studied in apolipoprotein E knockout (ApoE Treatment with α-conotoxin MII (MII; an α3-nAChR antagonist) increased the number of inflammatory cells infiltrating the aortic walls and further impaired the endothelium-dependent vasodilatations in the aorta of ApoE α3-nAChRs play a pivotal role in regulating the inflammatory responses in endothelial cells and macrophages. The mechanisms involve the modulations of multiple cell signalling pathways.