Nicotine is commonly consumed by people for its rewarding properties resulting in dependence, addiction and withdrawal. Human studies have shown that people with a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) within the α5 nAChR encoding gene (CHRNA5, rs16969968) correlates with an increased risk of nicotine dependency and pleasure along with more heavy smoking. This particular SNP results in an aspartic acid to asparagine substitution at amino acid residue 398 (D398N). The rs16969968 within CHRNA5 causes a reduction in the receptor function that is involved in producing withdrawal symptoms. Individuals with this SNP are commonly found in those of European descent; there is about a 30% greater risk of nicotine dependence in individuals carry a single copy of the variant and about a 50% greater risk in individuals with two copies. Other studies have shown that people with this SNP develop nicotine dependence at a younger age. Researchers conclude that fewer aversive effects of nicotine would promote the rewarding effects or hedonic drive that would transition people from nicotine abuse to dependency. Additionally, SNP variants within rs16969968 in CHRNA5 have been associated with smoking-related behaviors such has a higher prevalence of smokers vs nonsmokers.
Due to technical limitations of invasive procedures, there are far fewer studies in about the role of the alpha5 nAChR subunit and cognition. Studies have performed microdialysis in subjects as they formed attention tasks and found significantly increased acetylcholine efflux.
Brown RW, Collins AC, Lindstrom JM, Whiteaker P (October 2007). "Nicotinic alpha5 subunit deletion locally reduces high-affinity agonist activation without altering nicotinic receptor numbers". Journal of Neurochemistry. 103 (1): 204–215. doi:10.1111/j.1471-4159.2007.04700.x. PMID 17573823. S2CID 28394031. https://doi.org/10.1111%2Fj.1471-4159.2007.04700.x
Bagdas D, AlSharari SD, Freitas K, Tracy M, Damaj MI (October 2015). "The role of alpha5 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in mouse models of chronic inflammatory and neuropathic pain". Biochemical Pharmacology. Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors as Therapeutic Targets: Emerging Frontiers in Basic Research and Clinical Science (Satellite to the 2015 Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience) Oct 14-15, Chicago, IL USA. 97 (4): 590–600. doi:10.1016/j.bcp.2015.04.013. PMC 4600420. PMID 25931144. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4600420
Brown RW, Collins AC, Lindstrom JM, Whiteaker P (October 2007). "Nicotinic alpha5 subunit deletion locally reduces high-affinity agonist activation without altering nicotinic receptor numbers". Journal of Neurochemistry. 103 (1): 204–215. doi:10.1111/j.1471-4159.2007.04700.x. PMID 17573823. S2CID 28394031. https://doi.org/10.1111%2Fj.1471-4159.2007.04700.x
Greenbaum L, Lerer B (October 2009). "Differential contribution of genetic variation in multiple brain nicotinic cholinergic receptors to nicotine dependence: recent progress and emerging open questions". Molecular Psychiatry. 14 (10): 912–945. doi:10.1038/mp.2009.59. PMID 19564872. S2CID 9769700. https://doi.org/10.1038%2Fmp.2009.59
Greenbaum L, Lerer B (October 2009). "Differential contribution of genetic variation in multiple brain nicotinic cholinergic receptors to nicotine dependence: recent progress and emerging open questions". Molecular Psychiatry. 14 (10): 912–945. doi:10.1038/mp.2009.59. PMID 19564872. S2CID 9769700. https://doi.org/10.1038%2Fmp.2009.59
Greenbaum L, Lerer B (October 2009). "Differential contribution of genetic variation in multiple brain nicotinic cholinergic receptors to nicotine dependence: recent progress and emerging open questions". Molecular Psychiatry. 14 (10): 912–945. doi:10.1038/mp.2009.59. PMID 19564872. S2CID 9769700. https://doi.org/10.1038%2Fmp.2009.59
Proulx E, Piva M, Tian MK, Bailey CD, Lambe EK (April 2014). "Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in attention circuitry: the role of layer VI neurons of prefrontal cortex". Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences. 71 (7): 1225–1244. doi:10.1007/s00018-013-1481-3. PMC 3949016. PMID 24122021. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3949016
de Kloet SF, Mansvelder HD, De Vries TJ (October 2015). "Cholinergic modulation of dopamine pathways through nicotinic acetylcholine receptors". Biochemical Pharmacology. 97 (4): 425–438. doi:10.1016/j.bcp.2015.07.014. PMID 26208783. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Demeter E, Sarter M (January 2013). "Leveraging the cortical cholinergic system to enhance attention". Neuropharmacology. 64 (1): 294–304. doi:10.1016/j.neuropharm.2012.06.060. PMC 3445745. PMID 22796110. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3445745
Wang JC, Kapoor M, Goate AM (2012-09-22). "The genetics of substance dependence". Annual Review of Genomics and Human Genetics. 13 (1): 241–261. doi:10.1146/annurev-genom-090711-163844. PMC 3474605. PMID 22703173. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3474605
Wittenberg RE, Wolfman SL, De Biasi M, Dani JA (October 2020). "Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and nicotine addiction: A brief introduction". Neuropharmacology. 177: 108256. doi:10.1016/j.neuropharm.2020.108256. PMC 7554201. PMID 32738308. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7554201
Antolin-Fontes B, Ables JL, Görlich A, Ibañez-Tallon I (September 2015). "The habenulo-interpeduncular pathway in nicotine aversion and withdrawal". Neuropharmacology. 96 (Pt B): 213–222. doi:10.1016/j.neuropharm.2014.11.019. PMC 4452453. PMID 25476971. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4452453
De Biasi M, Dani JA (2011-07-21). "Reward, addiction, withdrawal to nicotine". Annual Review of Neuroscience. 34 (1): 105–130. doi:10.1146/annurev-neuro-061010-113734. PMC 3137256. PMID 21438686. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3137256
Tuesta LM, Fowler CD, Kenny PJ (October 2011). "Recent advances in understanding nicotinic receptor signaling mechanisms that regulate drug self-administration behavior". Biochemical Pharmacology. 82 (8): 984–995. doi:10.1016/j.bcp.2011.06.026. PMC 3163076. PMID 21740894. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3163076
De Biasi M, Dani JA (2011-07-21). "Reward, addiction, withdrawal to nicotine". Annual Review of Neuroscience. 34 (1): 105–130. doi:10.1146/annurev-neuro-061010-113734. PMC 3137256. PMID 21438686. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3137256
De Biasi M, Dani JA (2011-07-21). "Reward, addiction, withdrawal to nicotine". Annual Review of Neuroscience. 34 (1): 105–130. doi:10.1146/annurev-neuro-061010-113734. PMC 3137256. PMID 21438686. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3137256
Stoker AK, Markou A (August 2013). "Unraveling the neurobiology of nicotine dependence using genetically engineered mice". Current Opinion in Neurobiology. 23 (4): 493–499. doi:10.1016/j.conb.2013.02.013. PMC 3735838. PMID 23545467. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3735838
Tuesta LM, Fowler CD, Kenny PJ (October 2011). "Recent advances in understanding nicotinic receptor signaling mechanisms that regulate drug self-administration behavior". Biochemical Pharmacology. 82 (8): 984–995. doi:10.1016/j.bcp.2011.06.026. PMC 3163076. PMID 21740894. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3163076
Stoker AK, Markou A (August 2013). "Unraveling the neurobiology of nicotine dependence using genetically engineered mice". Current Opinion in Neurobiology. 23 (4): 493–499. doi:10.1016/j.conb.2013.02.013. PMC 3735838. PMID 23545467. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3735838
Tuesta LM, Fowler CD, Kenny PJ (October 2011). "Recent advances in understanding nicotinic receptor signaling mechanisms that regulate drug self-administration behavior". Biochemical Pharmacology. 82 (8): 984–995. doi:10.1016/j.bcp.2011.06.026. PMC 3163076. PMID 21740894. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3163076
De Biasi M, Dani JA (2011-07-21). "Reward, addiction, withdrawal to nicotine". Annual Review of Neuroscience. 34 (1): 105–130. doi:10.1146/annurev-neuro-061010-113734. PMC 3137256. PMID 21438686. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3137256
De Biasi M, Dani JA (2011-07-21). "Reward, addiction, withdrawal to nicotine". Annual Review of Neuroscience. 34 (1): 105–130. doi:10.1146/annurev-neuro-061010-113734. PMC 3137256. PMID 21438686. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3137256
Improgo MR, Scofield MD, Tapper AR, Gardner PD (September 2010). "From smoking to lung cancer: the CHRNA5/A3/B4 connection". Oncogene. 29 (35): 4874–4884. doi:10.1038/onc.2010.256. PMC 3934347. PMID 20581870. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3934347
Improgo MR, Scofield MD, Tapper AR, Gardner PD (October 2010). "The nicotinic acetylcholine receptor CHRNA5/A3/B4 gene cluster: dual role in nicotine addiction and lung cancer". Progress in Neurobiology. 92 (2): 212–226. doi:10.1016/j.pneurobio.2010.05.003. PMC 2939268. PMID 20685379. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2939268
Russo P, Cesario A, Rutella S, Veronesi G, Spaggiari L, Galetta D, et al. (2010-12-31). "Impact of genetic variability in nicotinic acetylcholine receptors on nicotine addiction and smoking cessation treatment". Current Medicinal Chemistry. 18 (1): 91–112. doi:10.2174/092986711793979715. PMID 21110812. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Tuesta LM, Fowler CD, Kenny PJ (October 2011). "Recent advances in understanding nicotinic receptor signaling mechanisms that regulate drug self-administration behavior". Biochemical Pharmacology. 82 (8): 984–995. doi:10.1016/j.bcp.2011.06.026. PMC 3163076. PMID 21740894. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3163076
Tuesta LM, Fowler CD, Kenny PJ (October 2011). "Recent advances in understanding nicotinic receptor signaling mechanisms that regulate drug self-administration behavior". Biochemical Pharmacology. 82 (8): 984–995. doi:10.1016/j.bcp.2011.06.026. PMC 3163076. PMID 21740894. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3163076
Tuesta LM, Fowler CD, Kenny PJ (October 2011). "Recent advances in understanding nicotinic receptor signaling mechanisms that regulate drug self-administration behavior". Biochemical Pharmacology. 82 (8): 984–995. doi:10.1016/j.bcp.2011.06.026. PMC 3163076. PMID 21740894. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3163076
De Biasi M, Dani JA (2011-07-21). "Reward, addiction, withdrawal to nicotine". Annual Review of Neuroscience. 34 (1): 105–130. doi:10.1146/annurev-neuro-061010-113734. PMC 3137256. PMID 21438686. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3137256
Greenbaum L, Lerer B (October 2009). "Differential contribution of genetic variation in multiple brain nicotinic cholinergic receptors to nicotine dependence: recent progress and emerging open questions". Molecular Psychiatry. 14 (10): 912–945. doi:10.1038/mp.2009.59. PMID 19564872. S2CID 9769700. https://doi.org/10.1038%2Fmp.2009.59
Ware JJ, van den Bree M, Munafò MR (November 2012). "From men to mice: CHRNA5/CHRNA3, smoking behavior and disease". Nicotine & Tobacco Research. 14 (11): 1291–1299. doi:10.1093/ntr/nts106. PMC 3482013. PMID 22544838. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3482013
Bloem B, Poorthuis RB, Mansvelder HD (2014-03-11). "Cholinergic modulation of the medial prefrontal cortex: the role of nicotinic receptors in attention and regulation of neuronal activity". Frontiers in Neural Circuits. 8: 17. doi:10.3389/fncir.2014.00017. PMC 3949318. PMID 24653678. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3949318
Bailey CD, De Biasi M, Fletcher PJ, Lambe EK (July 2010). "The nicotinic acetylcholine receptor alpha5 subunit plays a key role in attention circuitry and accuracy". The Journal of Neuroscience. 30 (27): 9241–9252. doi:10.1523/jneurosci.2258-10.2010. PMC 3004929. PMID 20610759. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3004929
Proulx E, Piva M, Tian MK, Bailey CD, Lambe EK (April 2014). "Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in attention circuitry: the role of layer VI neurons of prefrontal cortex". Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences. 71 (7): 1225–1244. doi:10.1007/s00018-013-1481-3. PMC 3949016. PMID 24122021. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3949016
Wallace TL, Ballard TM, Pouzet B, Riedel WJ, Wettstein JG (August 2011). "Drug targets for cognitive enhancement in neuropsychiatric disorders" (PDF). Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior. 99 (2): 130–145. doi:10.1016/j.pbb.2011.03.022. PMID 21463652. S2CID 25911863. https://cris.maastrichtuniversity.nl/ws/files/76658190/Riedel_2011_Drug_targets_for_cognitive_enhancement.pdf
Proulx E, Piva M, Tian MK, Bailey CD, Lambe EK (April 2014). "Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in attention circuitry: the role of layer VI neurons of prefrontal cortex". Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences. 71 (7): 1225–1244. doi:10.1007/s00018-013-1481-3. PMC 3949016. PMID 24122021. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3949016
Dawson A, Wolstenholme JT, Roni MA, Campbell VC, Jackson A, Slater C, et al. (August 2018). "Knockout of alpha 5 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors subunit alters ethanol-mediated behavioral effects and reward in mice". Neuropharmacology. 138: 341–348. doi:10.1016/j.neuropharm.2018.06.031. PMC 6400055. PMID 29944862. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6400055
Salas R, Orr-Urtreger A, Broide RS, Beaudet A, Paylor R, De Biasi M (May 2003). "The nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit alpha 5 mediates short-term effects of nicotine in vivo". Molecular Pharmacology. 63 (5): 1059–1066. doi:10.1124/mol.63.5.1059. PMID 12695534. S2CID 97775995. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Fowler CD, Lu Q, Johnson PM, Marks MJ, Kenny PJ (March 2011). "Habenular α5 nicotinic receptor subunit signalling controls nicotine intake". Nature. 471 (7340): 597–601. Bibcode:2011Natur.471..597F. doi:10.1038/nature09797. PMC 3079537. PMID 21278726. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3079537
Fowler CD, Lu Q, Johnson PM, Marks MJ, Kenny PJ (March 2011). "Habenular α5 nicotinic receptor subunit signalling controls nicotine intake". Nature. 471 (7340): 597–601. Bibcode:2011Natur.471..597F. doi:10.1038/nature09797. PMC 3079537. PMID 21278726. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3079537
Forget B, Icick R, Robert J, Correia C, Prevost MS, Gielen M, et al. (February 2021). "Alterations in nicotinic receptor alpha5 subunit gene differentially impact early and later stages of cocaine addiction: a translational study in transgenic rats and patients" (PDF). Progress in Neurobiology. 197: 101898. doi:10.1016/j.pneurobio.2020.101898. PMID 32841724. S2CID 221235364. https://hal-pasteur.archives-ouvertes.fr/pasteur-02928473/file/Manuscript%20cocA5%20PinN%20revision%202%20finalized.pdf
Bailey CD, De Biasi M, Fletcher PJ, Lambe EK (July 2010). "The nicotinic acetylcholine receptor alpha5 subunit plays a key role in attention circuitry and accuracy". The Journal of Neuroscience. 30 (27): 9241–9252. doi:10.1523/jneurosci.2258-10.2010. PMC 3004929. PMID 20610759. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3004929
Antolin-Fontes B, Ables JL, Görlich A, Ibañez-Tallon I (September 2015). "The habenulo-interpeduncular pathway in nicotine aversion and withdrawal". Neuropharmacology. 96 (Pt B): 213–222. doi:10.1016/j.neuropharm.2014.11.019. PMC 4452453. PMID 25476971. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4452453
Decker MW, Meyer MD, Sullivan JP (October 2001). "The therapeutic potential of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonists for pain control". Expert Opinion on Investigational Drugs. 10 (10): 1819–1830. doi:10.1517/13543784.10.10.1819. PMID 11772288. S2CID 24924290. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
"Safety and Tolerability Study of ABT-089 in Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)". ClinicalTrials.gov. https://clinicaltrials.gov/search?id=%22NCT00391729%22OR%22NCT00443391%22OR%22NCT00528697%22OR%22NCT00554385%22OR%22NCT00640185%22OR%22NCT00640419%22OR%22NCT00686933%22
"Study of the Long-Term Safety of ABT-089 for Subjects with Mild-to-Moderate Alzheimer's Disease". ClinicalTrials.gov. https://clinicaltrials.gov/search?id=%22NCT00069849%22OR%22NCT00555204%22OR%22NCT00809510%22
Sullivan JP, Donnelly-Roberts D, Briggs CA, Anderson DJ, Gopalakrishnan M, Xue IC, et al. (October 1997). "ABT-089 [2-methyl-3-(2-(S)-pyrrolidinylmethoxy)pyridine]: I. A potent and selective cholinergic channel modulator with neuroprotective properties". The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. 283 (1): 235–246. PMID 9336329. http://intl-jpet.aspetjournals.org/cgi/content/full/283/1/235
Gotti C, Marks MJ, Millar NS, Wonnacott S (2019-09-16). "Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (version 2019.4) in the IUPHAR/BPS Guide to Pharmacology Database". IUPHAR/BPS Guide to Pharmacology CITE. 2019 (4). doi:10.2218/gtopdb/F76/2019.4. ISSN 2633-1020. S2CID 203817110. http://journals.ed.ac.uk/gtopdb-cite/article/view/3228
Gotti C, Marks MJ, Millar NS, Wonnacott S (2019-09-16). "Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (version 2019.4) in the IUPHAR/BPS Guide to Pharmacology Database". IUPHAR/BPS Guide to Pharmacology CITE. 2019 (4). doi:10.2218/gtopdb/F76/2019.4. ISSN 2633-1020. S2CID 203817110. http://journals.ed.ac.uk/gtopdb-cite/article/view/3228
Gotti C, Marks MJ, Millar NS, Wonnacott S (2019-09-16). "Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (version 2019.4) in the IUPHAR/BPS Guide to Pharmacology Database". IUPHAR/BPS Guide to Pharmacology CITE. 2019 (4). doi:10.2218/gtopdb/F76/2019.4. ISSN 2633-1020. S2CID 203817110. http://journals.ed.ac.uk/gtopdb-cite/article/view/3228
Gotti C, Marks MJ, Millar NS, Wonnacott S (2019-09-16). "Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (version 2019.4) in the IUPHAR/BPS Guide to Pharmacology Database". IUPHAR/BPS Guide to Pharmacology CITE. 2019 (4). doi:10.2218/gtopdb/F76/2019.4. ISSN 2633-1020. S2CID 203817110. http://journals.ed.ac.uk/gtopdb-cite/article/view/3228
The interactive pathway map can be edited at WikiPathways: "NicotineDopaminergic_WP1602". http://www.wikipathways.org/index.php/Pathway:WP1602