Blockers of Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors Delay Tumor Growth and Increase Antitumor Activity of Mouse Splenocytes

Abstract

Blockade of α6, α3β2, α9α10, and α7 subtypes of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors slows tumor growth in vivo, increases cytotoxic activity of splenocytes from tumor-bearing mice, and, to some extent, reduces the viability of Ehrlich carcinoma cells in vitro. These data indicate that nicotinic acetylcholine receptors are involved in oncogenesis, affecting the survival of tumor cells, inter alia, via modulation of the antitumor immunity.

Keywords: Ehrlich carcinoma; neurotoxins; nicotinic receptors; splenocytes.