The current agonists and positive allosteric modulators of7 nAChR for CNS indications in clinical trials

The alpha-7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (7 nAChR), consisting of homomeric7 subunits, is a ligand-gated Ca-permeable ion channel implicated in cognition and neuropsychiatric disorders. Enhancement of7 nAChR function is considered to be a potential therapeutic strategy aiming at ameliorating cognitive deficits of neuropsychiatric disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and schizophrenia. Currently, a number of7 nAChR modulators have been reported and several of them have advanced into clinical trials. In this brief review, we outline recent progress made in understanding the role of the7 nAChR in multiple neuropsychiatric disorders and the pharmacological effects of7 nAChR modulators used in clinical trials.