Molecular evidence that granuloma T lymphocytes in murine schistosomiasis mansoni express an authentic substance P (NK-1) receptor.
Murine Schistosomiasis mansoni is a parasitic disease in which granulomas develop around the schistosome ova that lodge in the liver and intestines of the host. The granuloma eosinophils make substance P (SP), a cytokine with immunoregulatory properties. Within the granuloma SP can modulate IFN-gamma production through interaction with a substance P-like receptor. SP belongs to a family of hormones called tachykinins. Three mammalian tachykinins are SP, neurokinin A (substance K), and neurokinin B (neuromedin K). In humans and rats, there are at least three distinct tachykinin receptors designated NK-1, NK-2, and NK-3. The NK-1 receptor binds only SP with high affinity. Using reverse transcription-PCR, cDNA cloning, and sequence analysis, we showed that granulomas isolated from the liver of infected mice express an authentic SP (NK-1) receptor but have no detectable neurokinin A (NK-2) and neurokinin B (NK-3) receptor mRNA, as determined by PCR. CD4+ granuloma T lymphocytes, purified by FACS, express NK-1 receptor mRNA. Normal liver devoid of granulomas exhibited none of the three tachykinin receptor subclasses.
Cook
G A
GA
Department of Animal Health and Biomedical Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53706.
Elliott
D
D
Metwali
A
A
Blum
A M
AM
Sandor
M
M
Lynch
R
R
Weinstock
J V
JV
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D005260:Female; D006099:Granuloma / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D018040:Receptors, Neurokinin-1 / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D018041:Receptors, Neurokinin-2 / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000378:metabolism*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018040:Receptors, Neurokinin-1; D018041:Receptors, Neurokinin-2