The induction of splenic suppressor T cells through an immune-privileged site requires an intact sympathetic nervous system.

Abstract

Antigen injection into the eye's anterior chamber (AC) induces the antigen-specific suppression of delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) that is mediated by NKT cells and splenic CD8+ suppressor T cells. Because the AC, uveal tissues, the thymus and spleen required to induce anterior chamber-associated immune deviation (ACAID) have dense sympathetic innervations, we examined the effects of chemical sympathectomy of mice by 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) on the induction of the suppression of contact sensitivity to trinitrophenol (TNP) induced by the injection of TNP-bovine serum albumin (BSA) into the anterior chamber. DTH measured as contact sensitivity to picrylchloride was not induced in mice that received 6-OHDA before immunization with TNP-BSA. Although spleen cells from 6-OHDA-treated TNP-BSA-immunized mice produced IFN-gamma when stimulated by TNP-BSA, the number of DTH-initiating hepatic NKT cells was reduced markedly in 6-OHDA-treated mice. Chemically denervated mice did not produce splenic suppressor T cells or thymic NKT cells that activate splenic suppressor T cells. We suggest that an intact sympathetic nervous system (SNS) is required to maintain cellular immunoregulation.

• Authors: Xingya Li, Shiv Taylor, Benjamin Zegarelli, Shujing Shen, James O'Rourke, Robert E Cone
• Journal: Journal of neuroimmunology (J Neuroimmunol) Vol. 153 Issue 1-2 Pg. 40-9 (Aug 2004) ISSN: 0165-5728 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 15265662 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Enzyme Inhibitors
• Picrates
• Sympatholytics
• Serum Albumin, Bovine
• Interferon-gamma
• Oxidopamine
• Trinitrobenzenesulfonic Acid
• picric acid
• Desipramine

Topics

• Animals
• Anterior Chamber (drug effects, immunology)
• Antibody Formation
• CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes (immunology)
• Desipramine (pharmacology)
• Drug Interactions
• Enzyme Inhibitors (pharmacology)
• Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (methods)
• Female
• Hypersensitivity, Delayed (etiology, immunology)
• Immune Tolerance (drug effects)
• Immunization (methods)
• Immunosuppression Therapy
• Interferon-gamma (biosynthesis)
• Killer Cells, Natural (immunology)
• Leukocytes, Mononuclear (immunology)
• Liver (cytology, immunology)
• Lymphocyte Activation (drug effects)
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred C57BL
• Oxidopamine (toxicity)
• Picrates (immunology, pharmacology)
• Rheology
• Serum Albumin, Bovine (immunology)
• Spleen (cytology, immunology)
• Sympathectomy (methods)
• Sympathetic Nervous System (drug effects, immunology)
• Sympatholytics (toxicity)
• Thymus Gland (cytology, immunology)
• Trinitrobenzenesulfonic Acid (immunology)