Dopamine β-hydroxylase deficiency impairs cellular immunity

  • Robert C. Alaniz
    Departments of Immunology, Biochemistry, Biological Structure, and Pediatrics, and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195
  • Steven A. Thomas
    Departments of Immunology, Biochemistry, Biological Structure, and Pediatrics, and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195
  • Mercedes Perez-Melgosa
    Departments of Immunology, Biochemistry, Biological Structure, and Pediatrics, and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195
  • Kai Mueller
    Departments of Immunology, Biochemistry, Biological Structure, and Pediatrics, and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195
  • Andrew G. Farr
    Departments of Immunology, Biochemistry, Biological Structure, and Pediatrics, and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195
  • Richard D. Palmiter
    Departments of Immunology, Biochemistry, Biological Structure, and Pediatrics, and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195
  • Christopher B. Wilson
    Departments of Immunology, Biochemistry, Biological Structure, and Pediatrics, and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195

抄録

<jats:p>Norepinephrine, released from sympathetic neurons, and epinephrine, released from the adrenal medulla, participate in a number of physiological processes including those that facilitate adaptation to stressful conditions. The thymus, spleen, and lymph nodes are richly innervated by the sympathetic nervous system, and catecholamines are thought to modulate the immune response. However, the importance of this modulatory role<jats:italic>in vivo</jats:italic>remains uncertain. We addressed this question genetically by using mice that lack dopamine β-hydroxylase (<jats:italic>dbh</jats:italic><jats:sup>−/−</jats:sup>mice).<jats:italic>dbh</jats:italic><jats:sup>−/−</jats:sup>mice cannot produce norepinephrine or epinephrine, but produce dopamine instead. When housed in specific pathogen-free conditions,<jats:italic>dbh</jats:italic><jats:sup>−/−</jats:sup>mice had normal numbers of blood leukocytes, and normal T and B cell development and<jats:italic>in vitro</jats:italic>function. However, when challenged<jats:italic>in vivo</jats:italic>by infection with the intracellular pathogens<jats:italic>Listeria monocytogenes</jats:italic>or<jats:italic>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</jats:italic>,<jats:italic>dbh</jats:italic><jats:sup>−/−</jats:sup>mice were more susceptible to infection, exhibited extreme thymic involution, and had impaired T cell function, including Th1 cytokine production. When immunized with trinitrophenyl-keyhole limpet hemocyanin,<jats:italic>dbh</jats:italic><jats:sup>−/−</jats:sup>mice produced less Th1 cytokine-dependent-IgG2a antitrinitrophenyl antibody. These results indicate that physiological catecholamine production is not required for normal development of the immune system, but plays an important role in the modulation of T cell-mediated immunity to infection and immunization.</jats:p>

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