CHRNA7

CHRNA7 encodes the alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7 nAChR), a pentameric ligand-gated ion channel with high calcium permeability. Common aliases include nAChRα7 and CHRNA7. It mediates cholinergic signaling, regulating neurotransmission, synaptic plasticity, and immune cell activation—critical for cognitive functions (memory, attention) in the central nervous system and anti-inflammatory responses in peripheral tissues.
α7 nAChR participates in pathways like the cholinergic anti-inflammatory axis, PI3K/Akt, and MAPK. Dysregulation links to schizophrenia (cognitive deficits), Alzheimer’s disease (amyloid-β clearance), epilepsy, and inflammatory disorders. Drug development includes positive allosteric modulators (e.g., PNU-120596) in clinical trials for schizophrenia; agonists are explored for neuroprotection, though selectivity and blood-brain barrier penetration remain key challenges.