title: Catecholamines modulate human NK cell circulation and function via spleen-independent beta 2-adrenergic mechanisms.
abstract: Increases in catecholamines have been shown to induce changes in migration of lymphocytes, in particular NK cells. To analyze the mechanisms of catecholamine-induced NK cell trafficking, normal healthy male human subjects and splenectomized individuals were infused with either adrenaline (0.10 microgram/kg/min), noradrenaline (0.15 microgram/kg/min), or NaCl i.v. for 20 min. Lymphocyte subsets (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+) transiently increased after administration of both catecholamines, with most pronounced increases (up to 600%) in NK cell numbers (CD16+ or CD56+) after infusion of adrenaline. These changes in NK cell numbers and function were accompanied neither by alterations in expression of adhesion molecules (CD11a), CD11b, CD31, CD43, CD44, CD62L) on NK cells nor by changes in plasma concentrations of soluble (s) adhesion molecules (sVCAM-1, sICAM-1, sE-selectin). Comparable increases in lymphocyte subsets were observed in splenectomized subjects, suggesting lymphocyte recruitment from other sources than the spleen. Furthermore, catecholamine-induced increases in lymphocyte subsets could be inhibited by pretreatment with the nonselective beta-adrenoceptor antagonist propranolol, but not by the beta1-selective antagonist bisoprolol. These data demonstrate that adrenaline and noradrenaline modulate the migratory capacity of human NK cells via spleen-independent beta 2-adrenoceptor mechanism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Dermatology, Hannover Medical School, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schedlowski
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hosch
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Oberbeck
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Benschop
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Raab
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Schmidt
mesh_terms: D058672:Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Antagonists; D000328:Adult; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects*; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000187:drug effects; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology*; D018655:Lymphocyte Count / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018343:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013156:Splenectomy
chemical_list: D058672:Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Antagonists; D018343:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2; D009638:Norepinephrine; D004837:Epinephrine