Anti-Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor α6 (CHRNA6) (extracellular) Antibody

Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) belong to the superfamily of ligand-gated ion channels and are widely expressed throughout the central and peripheral nervous systems. nAChRs play crucial roles in modulating a wide range of higher cognitive functions by mediating presynaptic, postsynaptic, and extrasynaptic signaling¹.
 
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors containing α6 subunits (nAChRα6) exhibit a unique expression pattern in the mammalian brain. nAChRs α6 are abundantly expressed in the midbrain dopaminergic (DAergic) system, including mesocorticolimbic and nigrostriatal pathways, and particularly present in presynaptic nerve terminals². nAChRα6 expressed on DAergic neurons can be activated by endogenous acetylcholine (Ach) or exogenous nicotine and analogs, which suggests that the activation of nAChRα6 may play a vital role in central cholinergic circuits, including modulation of locomotor behaviour and drug addiction³. In addition, nAChRα6 is particularly susceptible to nigrostriatal damage, which may lead to Parkinson’s disease (PD)⁴. nAChRα6 are also expressed by sensory neurons; therefore, they may also play a role in disorders related to sensory perception⁵.