Evidence for the involvement of beta-adrenergic receptors in conditioned immunomodulation.
This study investigates the role of beta-adrenergic receptors in the immunomodulatory effects of a conditioned aversive stimulus (CS). A CS is an environmental event that is not inherently aversive, but acquires aversive properties through pairings with a stimulus such as electric shock. This study evaluated the effects of administration of the beta 1-receptor selective antagonist atenolol, and the beta 2-receptor antagonist ICI 118,551 on conditioned immune alterations. Administration of either antagonist prior to presentation of the CS resulted in a dose-dependent attenuation of the CS-induced suppression of splenic T-cell proliferative response to concanavalin A, phytohemagglutinin, and the combination of ionomycin/phorbol-myristate-acetate. Furthermore, both antagonists dose-dependently attenuated the CS-induced suppression of gamma-interferon production by concanavalin-A (ConA)-stimulated splenocytes. In contrast, neither antagonist significantly attenuated the CS-induced suppression of the B-cell mitogenic response to LPS, interleukin-2 production, natural killer cell activity, or mitogenic responsiveness of blood lymphocytes. Thus it is likely that multiple mechanisms are involved in CS-induced immune alterations and these results clearly implicate beta 1 and beta 2-adrenergic receptors in a subset of immunomodulatory effects.
Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 27599-3270.
L J
LJ
Luecken
D T
DT
Lysle
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001262:Atenolol / Q000494:pharmacology; D003213:Conditioning, Psychological; D004597:Electroshock; D007107:Immune System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000032:analysis; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000166:cytology; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain; D011412:Propanolamines / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / Q000502:physiology*
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D007376:Interleukin-2; D011412:Propanolamines; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta; C026777:ICI 118551; D001262:Atenolol; D007371:Interferon-gamma