Valentin Yakubenko, PhD, is the corresponding author for the article “Cholinergic signaling via the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor regulates the migration of monocyte-derived macrophages during acute inflammation,” published in the Journal of Neuroinflammation. The Journal of Neuroinflammation is a peer-reviewed, open access scientific journal with an impact factor of 9.3.
The study compared α7nAChR-deficient mice to wild-type controls in which endotoxemia was induced and which was paralleled with a significant reduction in the number of monocyte-derived macrophages in the lungs. The authors observed increased mortality in α7nAChR-deficient mice and demonstrated a novel role for the α7nAChR in mediating macrophage recruitment to inflamed tissue, indicating an important new aspect of the cholinergic regulation of immune responses and inflammation.
Dr. Yakubenko says, “Our findings indicate that the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway, specifically the α7nAChR, plays a crucial role in regulating the migration and accumulation of macrophages at inflammation sites. These results provide novel insights into α7nAChR-mediated monocyte/macrophage migration to inflamed tissues, expanding the clinical possibilities for septic patients.” Valentin Yakubenko is an associate professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences. Kasey R. Keever and Jared L. Casteel are current students in Dr. Yakubenko’ s lab. Dr. Kui Cui, a former student in the Yakubenko lab, is currently a research fellow at Harvard Medical School.
Authors: Kasey R. Keever, Kui Cui, Jared L. Casteel, Sanjay Singh, Donald B. Hoover, David L. Williams, Valentin A. Pavlov, Valentin P. Yakubenko CIIDI members and student members are in bold.
The complete article can be viewed here: Investigate