Referenced in: none

Automatically associated channels: ClC4

Title: alpha-Conotoxin imperialis I inhibits nicotine-evoked hormone release and cell proliferation in human neuroendocrine carcinoma cells.

Authors: A Codignola, J M McIntosh, M G Cattaneo, L M Vicentini, F Clementi, E Sher

Journal, date & volume: Neurosci. Lett., 1996 Mar 8 , 206, 53-6

PubMed link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8848281

Abstract
alpha-Conotoxins are small peptides present in the venom of different species of marine snails of the Conus genus that target nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), with a marked specificity for muscle-type nAChRs. alpha-Conotoxin Imperialis I (alpha-Ctx-Iml), from Conus imperialis, has been recently described as a potent antagonist of mammalian neuronal alpha-bungarotoxin (alpha-Bgtx)-sensitive nAChRs. Human small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) is a very aggressive tumor composed of neuroendocrine secretory cells. We demonstrated that human SCLC cells express neuronal-type alpha-Bgtx-sensitive nAChRs, and that their activation causes secretion of mitogenic hormones and stimulates cell proliferation, alpha-Ctx ImI inhibits both these nicotinic effects, and could therefore be considered a new important tool for investigating human neuronal-type alpha-Bgtx-sensitive nAChRs.