Adrenergic/Cholinergic immunomodulation in the rat model - In vivo veritas?

I. Rinner, P. Felsner, P. M. Liebmann, D. Hofer, A. Wölfler, A. Globerson, K. Schauenstein

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

For several years, our group has been studying the in vivo role of adrenergic and cholinergic mechanisms in the immune-neuroendocrine dialogue in the rat model. The main results of these studies can be summarized as follows: (1) exogenous or endogenous catecholamines suppress PBL functions through alpha-2-receptor-mediated mechanisms, lymphocytes of the spleen are resistant to adrenergic in vivo stimulation, (2) direct or indirect cholinergic treatment leads to enhanced ex vivo functions of splenic and thymic lymphocytes leaving PBL unaffected, (3) cholinergic pathways play a critical role in the 'talking back' of the immune system to the brain, (4) acetylcholine inhibits apoptosis of thymocytes possibly via direct effects on thymic epithelial cells, and may thereby influence T-cell maturation, (5) lymphocytes of the various immunological compartments were found to be equipped with the key enzymes for the synthesis of both acetylcholine and norepinephrine, and to secrete these neurotransmitters in culture supernatants.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)245-252
Number of pages8
JournalDevelopmental Immunology
Volume6
Issue number3-4
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 1998
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Acetylcholine
  • Apoptosis
  • Catecholamines
  • Choline-acetyl transferase
  • Dopamine-beta-hydroxylase
  • Lymphocytes
  • Neuroimmunomodulation
  • Thymic epithelial cells

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology
  • Developmental Biology

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