J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2005 Jun;46(6):1060-1067.

Characteristics of Nicotinic Receptor Expressed in Human Retinoblastoma

• Kim DR
• Cha SK
• Kong ID
• Jung SH
• Rah SH

Abstract

PURPOSE
To identify the characteristics and physiological function of the nicotinic receptor expressed in human retinoblastoma cells. METHODS: We measured possible nicotinic signaling in WERI-Rb-1 cells using the Ca2+ imaging technique and the patch clamp method. RESULTS: 1) Nicotine-induced [Ca2+]i rise arose entirely through Ca2+ influx, which was completely abolished by hexamethonium (100 micro M). 2) Nicotine also induced remarkable depolarization from -56.6 +/- 3.7 mV to -29.6 +/- 3.6 mV (n=4) under current clamp mode, but it failed to directly activate the T-type Ca2+ channel expressed in retinoblastoma cells. CONCLUSIONS: Nicotinic activation can increase the intracellular calcium level through calcium influx in the undifferentiated retinoblastoma cells, which may play important roles in cell proliferation, differentiation, and cell death.

Keyword

Calcium; Nicotinic receptor; Retinoblastoma cell

MeSH Terms

Calcium
Cell Death
Cell Proliferation
Hexamethonium
Humans*
Nicotine
Receptors, Nicotinic*
Retinoblastoma*
Calcium
Hexamethonium
Nicotine
Receptors, Nicotinic