α7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors May Improve Schwann Cell Regenerating Potential via Metabotropic Signaling Pathways.

Our data demonstrate that α7 nAChRs, expressed by SCs only after peripheral axon damage and/or in an inflammatory microenvironment, contribute to improve the SCs regenerating properties. Indeed, α7 nAChR stimulation leads to an upregulation of c-Jun expression and promotes Schwann cell migration by non-canonical pathways involving the mTORC1 activity.