Nicotine exerts neuroprotective effects by attenuating local inflammatory cytokine production following crush injury to rat sciatic nerves

Background Recent studies have demonstrated that nicotine exhibited anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties by interacting with the alpha 7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR). However, the role of nicotine in regeneration during peripheral nerve injury has not been elucidated. The aim of this study was to investigate whether nicotine down-regulated production of proinflammatory cytokines and promoted peripheral nerve regeneration in rats.