title: Capsaicin-induced inhibition of mitogen and interleukin-2-stimulated T cell proliferation: its reversal by in vivo substance P administration.
abstract: The direct and indirect interaction between the nervous and the immune systems was evaluated in the rat using the neurotoxin capsaicin. Capsaicin treatment of neonatal rats (50 mg/kg at 2 days of age), results in a marked inhibition of mitogen and hrIL-2-induced cell proliferation both in the spleen and peripheral blood. Inhibition is already evident on day 15 after treatment and persists until day 90 in the spleen; at this time a return to control levels is observed in peripheral blood. The inhibition of proliferative response strongly correlates with a decreased number of CD5+ and CD4+ T cells as evaluated by immunofluorescence and FACS analysis. Moreover, continuous in vivo SP administration stimulates mitogen and hrIL-2-induced proliferative response and completely reverts the capsaicin-induced inhibition of lymphocyte proliferation in the spleen.
authors.affiliation: Section of General Pathology, University of Camerino, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Santoni
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Perfumi
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Bressan
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Piccoli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002211:Capsaicin / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000172:deficiency; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology; D013373:Substance P / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D008934:Mitogens; D009479:Neuropeptides; D003208:Concanavalin A; D013373:Substance P; D002211:Capsaicin