α4β2^* nicotinic acetylcholine receptors drive human temporal glutamate/GABA balance toward inhibition.

ABSTRACT: Heteromeric nicotinic acetylcholine nAChRs (nAChRs) containing the α4 and β2 subunits (α4β2^* nAChRs) modulate neurotransmitter release in several regions of the brain. In temporal lobe epilepsy, inhibitory GABAergic neurotransmission is altered, whereas no evidence of nicotinic dysfunction has been reported. Here, we investigated, in human epileptic cortical tissues, the ability of α4β2^* nAChRs to modulate synaptic transmission. An increased expression of α4 and β2 subunits was observed in the temporal cortex of epileptic patients. We then recorded excitatory and inhibitory postsynaptic currents from layer 5 pyramidal neurons in the cortex of temporal lobe epilepsy patients, before and during selective modulation of α4β2^* nAChRs by desformylflustrabromine (

SUBMITTER: Martinello K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11908476 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature