The lymphocytic cholinergic system and its biological function.

Koichiro Kawashima; Takeshi Fujii

doi:10.1016/s0024-3205(03)00068-7

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The lymphocytic cholinergic system and its biological function.

Koichiro Kawashima·Takeshi Fujii

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Abstract

Lymphocytes are now known to possess the essential components for a non-neuronal cholinergic system. These include acetylcholine (ACh); choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), its synthesizing enzyme; and both muscarinic and nicotinic ACh receptors (mAChRs and nAChRs, respectively). Stimulating lymphocytes with phytohemagglutinin, a T-cell activator; Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I, a B-cell activator; or cell surface molecules enhances the synthesis and release of ACh and up-regulates expression of ChAT and M(5) mAChR mRNAs. Activation of mAChRs and nAChRs on lymphocytes elicits increases in the intracellular Ca(2+) concentration and stimulates c-fos gene expression and nitric oxide synthesis. On the other hand, long-term exposure to nicotine down-regulates expression of nAChR mRNA. Abnormalities in the lymphocytic cholinergic system have been detected in spontaneously hypertensive rats and MRL-lpr mice, two animal models of immune disorders. Taken together, these data present a compelling picture in which immune function is, at least in part, under the control of an independent non-neuronal lymphocytic cholinergic system.

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Acetylcholine Animals Humans Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes Lymphocytes Membrane Transport Proteins Mice Mice, Inbred MRL lpr Muscarinic Agonists Nicotinic Agonists Receptors, Muscarinic Receptors, Nicotinic Journal Article Review

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Koichiro Kawashima, Takeshi Fujii. 2003-03-28. The lymphocytic cholinergic system and its biological function.. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0024-3205(03)00068-7

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