Resistance of macrophages to Mycobacterium avium is induced by alpha(2)-adrenergic stimulation

The ability of macrophages to control the growth of microorganisms is increased by macrophage activation. Previously, it was shown that epinephrine activated mouse macrophages to resist the growth of Mycobacterium avium via alpha(2)-adrenergic stimulation. In the present study, we show that the alpha(2)-adrenergic agonist (alpha(2)-agonist) clonidine induced resistance to M. avium growth in the RAW264.7 mouse macrophage cell line. The ability of catechollamines to induce resistance to mycobacteria was specific to a2-adrenergic stimulation, as alpha(1)-, beta(1)-, and beta(2)-agonists had no effect. Receptor signaling through Gi proteins was required. A G-protein antagonist specific for the alpha subunits of the Go/Gi family blocked the increased resistance induced by clonidine, while a Gs-protein antagonist was without effect. Both nitric oxide (NO) production and superoxide (O-2-) production were required for the increased resistance to M. avium growth induced by clonidine. Although NO production was required, clonidine did not increase the level of NO in M. avium-infected cells. Since NO and O-2- interact to produce peroxynitrite (ONOO-), we examined whether ONOO- mediates the increased resistance to M. avium induced by clonidine. 5,10,15,20-Tetrakis(4-sulfonatophenyl)prophyrinato iron (111) chloride (FeTPPS), a specific scavenger of ONOO-, inhibited the effect of clonidine on M. avium growth. Clonidine also increased the production of ONOO- in M. avium-infected RAW264.7 cells, as measured by the oxidation of 123-dihydrorhodamine and the production of nitrated tyrosine residues. We therefore conclude that alpha(2)-adrenergic stimulation activates macrophages to resist the growth of M. avium by enhancing the production of ONOO-.