title: Cholinergic modulation of immunoglobulin secretion from avian plasma cells: the role of calcium.
abstract: The existence of a functional connection between the nervous and immune systems has long been argued. To determine if such a link exists in the secretory immune system, we have examined the avian lacrimal gland (Harderian gland) which contains large numbers of plasma cells. We have shown that these plasma cells bind an antibody to muscarinic acetylcholine receptor and that carbachol, an acetylcholine agonist, increases the secretion rate of IgG by these cells above a constitutive baseline level. This neurotransmitter-dependent increase of immunoglobulin secretion requires an influx of Ca2+, whereas the constitutive baseline secretion is apparently less dependent on such a flux. Furthermore, the Ca2+ flux appears to be mediated by voltage-dependent calcium channels. These data support the hypothesis that plasma cells can respond to neurotransmitters and, in the case of acetylcholine, increase immunoglobulin secretion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, SUNY Stony Brook 11794-8661.
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Brink
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Walcott
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Roemer
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Grine
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pastor
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Christ
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Cameron
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology*; D002217:Carbachol / Q000494:pharmacology; D002645:Chickens; D005260:Female; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D007136:Immunoglobulins; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; D002217:Carbachol; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D002118:Calcium