Journal
FRONTIERS IN BIOSCIENCE-LANDMARK
Volume 9, Issue -, Pages 2063-2085Publisher
IMR PRESS
DOI: 10.2741/1390
Keywords
acetylcholine; acetylcholinesterase; apelin; antigen presentation; B cell; calcium; c-fos; choline; choline acetyltransferase; high affinity choline transporter; lymphocyte; muscarinic receptor; nicotinic receptor; nitric oxide; PGE(2); phytohemagglutinin; radioimmunoassay; spontaneously hypertensive rat; T cell; thymic epithelial cell; thymocytes; vascular endothelial cell; review
Categories
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Lymphocytes express most components of the cholinergic system including acetylcholine (ACh), muscarinic and nicotinic ACh receptors (mAChRs and nAChRs, respectively), choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), high affinity choline transporter and acetylcholinesterase. ACh and mAChR agonists elicit intracellular Ca2+ signaling, up-regulation of c-fos expression and nitric oxide synthesis within T and B cells probably via M-3 and M-5 mAChRs. Stimulation of nAChRs with ACh or nicotine causes a rapid and transient Ca2+ signaling in T and B cells, probably via alpha7 nAChR subunit-mediated pathways. Phytohemagglutinin- or antigen-induced T cell activation via cell surface molecules (e.g., T cell receptor/CD3 complexes) enhances lymphocytic cholinergic transmission by up - regulating ChAT and M-5 mAChR expression. It is thus likely that a local lymphocytic cholinergic system is involved in regulating immune function. This idea is supported by the findings that lymphocytic cholinergic activity [GRAPHICS] IP3, inositol trisphosphate; PHA, phytohemagglutinin; IL-2, interleukin-2; IgM, immunoglobulin M; INF-gamma, interferon-gamma; [Ca2+] intracellular free calcium ion concentration is altered in animal models exhibiting immunological abnormalities. In addition, it appears likely that during interactions mediated by cell surface molecules T cells communicate via ACh with thymic epithelial cells and vascular endothelial cells, which also express ChAT and nAChRs or mAChRs. This interaction leads to T cell selection and maturation in the thymus and local vascular smooth muscle relaxation. Collectively, these data provide a compelling picture in which lymphocytes constitute a cholinergic system that is independent of cholinergic nerves, and which is involved in the regulation of immune function and local circulation.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available