The muscarinic acetylcholine receptor M2, also known as the cholinergic receptor, muscarinic 2, is a muscarinic acetylcholine receptor that in humans is encoded by the CHRM2 gene.[5] Multiple alternatively spliced transcript variants have been described for this gene.[5] It is Gi-coupled, reducing intracellular levels of cAMP.
The M2 muscarinic receptors are located in the heart, where they act to slow the heart rate down to normal sinus rhythm after negative stimulatory actions of the parasympathetic nervous system, by slowing the speed of depolarization. They also reduce contractile forces of the atrial cardiac muscle, and reduce conduction velocity of the atrioventricular node (AV node). However, they have little effect on the contractile forces of the ventricular muscle, slightly decreasing force.
Both M2 and M3 muscarinic receptors are expressed in the smooth muscles of the airway, with the majority of the receptors being the M2 type. Activation of the M2 receptors, which are coupled to Gi, inhibits the β-adrenergic mediated relaxation of the airway smooth muscle. Synergistically, activation of the M3 receptors, which couple to Gq, stimulates contraction of the airway smooth muscle.[6]
A Dutch family study found that there is "a highly significant association" between the CHRM2 gene and intelligence as measured by the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised.[7] A similar association was found independently in the Minnesota Twin and Family Study.[8][9]
However, a larger 2009 study attempting to replicate this claim instead found no significant association between the CHRM2 gene and intelligence.[10]
Mediating olfactory guided behaviors (e.g. odor discrimination, aggression, mating).[11]
M2 muscarinic receptors act via a Gi type receptor, which causes a decrease in cAMP in the cell, generally leading to inhibitory-type effects. They appear to generally serve as autoreceptors.[12]
In addition, they modulate G protein-coupled inwardly-rectifying potassium channels.[13][14] In the heart, this contributes to a decreased heart rate. They do so by the Gβγ subunit of the G protein; Gβγ shifts the open probability of K+ channels in the membrane of the cardiac pacemaker cells, which causes an outward current of potassium, effectively hyperpolarizing the membrane, which slows down the heart rate.
Few highly selective M2 agonists are available at present, although there are several non-selective muscarinic agonists that stimulate M2, and a number of selective M2 antagonists are available.
