title: Induction of choline acetyltransferase mRNA in human mononuclear leukocytes stimulated by phytohemagglutinin, a T-cell activator.
abstract: The induction of mRNA for choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), which catalyzes acetylcholine (ACh) synthesis was investigated in human mononuclear leukocytes (MNL) stimulated by phytohemagglutinin (PHA), a T-cell activator, using the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Stimulation of MNL by PHA induced the expression of ChAT mRNA, and potentiated ACh synthesis. ChAT mRNA induction required more time than the induction of interleukin-2 mRNA. Expression of the gene encoding the vesicular ACh transporter, which mediates ACh transport in cholinergic neurons, was not observed in PHA-stimulated MNL, suggesting that the mechanisms controlling ACh release from T-lymphocytes differ from those in cholinergic neurons. These findings demonstrate that activation of T-lymphocytes up-regulates ACh synthesis in the blood, and suggest that ACh plays an important role as a neuroimmunomodulator besides its role as a neurotransmitter.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Kyoritsu College of Pharmacy, 1-5-30 Shibakoen, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105, Japan.
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fujii
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Kyoritsu College of Pharmacy, 1-5-30 Shibakoen, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105, Japan.
authors.forename: Shin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Kyoritsu College of Pharmacy, 1-5-30 Shibakoen, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Neuroscience, 2-6 Musashidai, Fuchu-city, Tokyo 183, Japan.
authors.forename: Hidemi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Misawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Kyoritsu College of Pharmacy, 1-5-30 Shibakoen, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105, Japan.
authors.forename: Sonoko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tajima
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Kyoritsu College of Pharmacy, 1-5-30 Shibakoen, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fujimoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Kyoritsu College of Pharmacy, 1-5-30 Shibakoen, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105, Japan.
authors.forename: Tadashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kasahara
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Kyoritsu College of Pharmacy, 1-5-30 Shibakoen, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105, Japan.
authors.forename: Koichiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kawashima
mesh_terms: D015139:Blotting, Southern; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000235:genetics; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase