Cervical cancer correlates with the differential expression of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and reveals therapeutic targets

Abstract

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are associated with various cancers, but the relation between nAChRs and cervical cancer remains unclear. Therefore, this study investigated the differential expression of nAChR subunits in human cervical cancer cell lines (SiHa, HeLa, and CaSki) and in normal ectocervical cell lines (Ect1/E6E7) at mRNA and protein levels. Two specific nAChR subtype blockers, aO-conotoxin GeXIVA and a-conotoxin TxID, were then selected to treat different human cervical cancer cell lines with specific nAChR subtype overexpression. The results showed that a3, a9, a10, and ß4 nAChR subunits were overexpressed in SiHa cells compared with that in normal cells. a9 and a10 nAChR subunits were overexpressed in CaSki cells. a*-conotoxins that targeted either a9a10 or a3ß4 nAChR were able to significantly inhibit cervical cancer cell proliferation. These findings may provide a basis for new targets for cervical cancer targeted therapy.