Figure 2.

Cholinergic signal activation in lung cancer. The binding of nicotine—from cigarette smoking—to its receptor nAchR can induce the activation of several intracellular trasnducers which promote cell proliferation (MAPK e Akt). Endogenous Ach, which is overexpressed, activates the same mediators by acting on both nicotinic and muscarinic receptors. Thus inhibitors of muscarinic receptors cooperate in sustaining the inhibition of cell proliferation related to both the exposure of exogenous nicotine and endogenous Ach as well