Evaluation of expression patterns of different nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunits in ovarian endometriosis in the search for promising new therapeutic targets for endometriosis

Objective. To study and evaluate the expression patterns of different subunits of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in reproductive-aged patients with ovarian endometriosis. Patients and methods. This study included 60 patients who were divided into two groups: group 1 – women with ovarian endometriosis, group 2 – control group. During surgical treatment, all patients underwent ovarian biopsy followed by RNA isolation, reverse transcription, real-time polymerase chain reaction, obtaining primary endometriosis cell cultures with further assessment of nAChR functional activity by the patch-clamp technique. Results. The study revealed a clinically significant expression of certain nAChR subunits, which was elevated specifically in biopsy samples obtained from endometriosis patients (α7, α9, α6, α4) compared to the control group. Furthermore, an increase in the expression of α4 and β2 subunits was detected for the first time, demonstrating the presence of heteromeric α4β2 receptors on endometriosis cells, the functionality of which was tested and confirmed by the patch-clamp technique. Conclusion. It was shown that the genes encoding these receptors are expressed at high levels, and the receptors themselves have good functional activity, which allows us to consider them as potential therapeutic targets for suppressing the production and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines in ovarian endometriosis. Key words: nicotine acetylcholine receptors, reverse transcription, real-time polymerase chain reaction, ovarian endometriosis, patch-clamp technique