The role of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the pathophysiology and pharmacotherapy of autism spectrum disorder: Focus on α 7 nicotinic receptors

Postmortem studies have revealed that brains of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) exhibit abnormalities in various components of the cholinergic system including cholinergic receptors, projections, and nuclei. Deletions in the 15q13.3 region which encompasses CHRNA7, the gene that encodes the alpha 7-nACh receptor, have been linked to various neurodevelopmental disorders, including ASD. In addition, the involvement of alpha 7-nACh receptors in biological phenomena known to play a role in the pathophysiology of ASD such as cognitive functions, learning, memory, neuroinflammation, and oxidative stress, as well as the excitationinhibition balance in neuronal circuits and maternal immune activation have been reported in previous studies. Furthermore, evolving preclinical and clinical literature supports the potential therapeutic benefits of using selectively acting cholinergic compounds, particularly those targeting the alpha 7-nACh receptor subtype, in the treatment of ASD. This study reviews the previous literature on the involvement of nACh receptors in the pathophysiology of ASD and focuses on the alpha 7-nACh receptor as a potential therapeutic target.